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 Title page of issue/ 
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 BY THB 
 
 Kev.HhARLES GARRETT. 
 
 
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 \ ,'• 
 
 TORONTO: 
 WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 & 80 KING STREET EAST» 
 
 a F. HUBSTIS. HAUVitz. N.a 
 
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 . thlM hupdrwl «iid olKhty-Hven, by WatUM BRiaa*, Rook Hteward ..( th« 
 
 Methodirt Book .nd PublUhlnv "cum. Toronto, at the Department of 
 
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 P11I#ACE. 
 
 Mine has been such a busy lifu tliut I linve bad no . time 
 fur what are called literary pursuits. My seruions and 
 speeches have been thought out, as I best could, but they 
 .have not been writ^teA. Hundreds of them have been 
 reported, and published in newspapers and in other ways ; 
 and fipm these I have selected the contents of this volume. 
 Many of my frtends have expressed the wish that I would 
 publish something that they could read when my voicer 
 shall no longer be heard; and I have yielded to their 
 request May the printed words be more useful thgji they 
 were when they were spoken \ 
 
 LiVKBrooL* iir«vem&er 22, 1888.^ 
 
 7; 
 
WJJi,„., 
 
 .•J**-' 
 
 "J^i-'tiiK-i^i' !^!5r.'-7K'5' i ?? '^n^'^'^ps.'.f.'TTT^- 
 
 I 
 
 
.■«,«r 
 
 _ CONTENTS. 
 
 
 t. 
 
 
 >ii. 
 
 
 IS . "•• 
 
 
 ^'^ IV. 
 
 
 /. .>-'-v. 
 
 
 r- / yi. 
 
 
 VII, 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 
 X. 
 
 
 Xf. 
 
 
 XH. 
 
 
 XIII. 
 
 
 XIV. 
 
 
 XV. 
 
 
 XVI. 
 
 -^ 
 
 XVIU 
 
 mm 
 
 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 
 :_ i- . 
 
 
 XIX. 
 
 
 XX. 
 
 
 X3CI. 
 
 
 XXII. 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP * . ... . , 
 
 GOD WITH US, ^8 WITH OUtS FATllKnS . . , 
 
 AN OLD PROMISE FOR THE NEW VkAll . . , 
 
 BOW TO ENSURE A HAPPV NEW YK\U ; . , 
 
 THE christian's JOYOUS KNOWLKIM.K , , 
 
 RELIGION BETTER THAN UFB . 
 
 the ACCEPTED CALL . , . . ^ 
 
 THE THRONE OF GRACE \ . . ^ 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS , . , 
 
 .■,■■- .| ■■ ■■■ :■ •■ ■• 
 
 THE NEW SONG . 4 ■ 
 
 PREPARE TE THE WAT OF THE liOlli> ' . . 
 
 SAVE THE CHILDREN . " .• ' ' . 
 
 . ■ ■.■■-.*. • '• 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SBRVAMf AND Ills «E\VAhD. . 
 
 "a GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST" . 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS OF ni K WEST- 
 MINSTER AND SOUTHLANDS COLLEGE, LELIVEUI D DEC'EM- 
 BER 19, 1882 . . .■'• ^ . ^ 
 
 STOP THE GAP I . • . . 
 
 OUR NATIONAL DRINK BILL FOR 1884, AND WHAT WE HAVE 
 FOR IT . . 
 
 THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TO THE BAND 
 OF HOPE . . . . . . 
 
 TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORJlWAlL . . . 
 
 ADDRESS AT THBfflCUMBNICAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST 
 CHURCH ... 
 
 THE SUNDAY DRINK TRAFFIC . . 
 
 THE INFLUENCE OF THE DRINKING CUSTOMS UPON^THK 
 WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH . . 
 
 PAOK 
 1 
 
 29 
 43 
 
 6i 
 
 M 
 73 
 
 n 
 
 94 
 104 
 
 129 
 142 
 161 
 176 
 200 
 
 221 
 231 
 
 24G 
 
 267 
 277 
 
 289' 
 296 
 
 807 
 
 .■: JJ 
 
FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP} 
 
 liCY DEAR YOUNG, BRETHREN, I heartily sympathize with 
 iU. you* in the event of to-day. To you this day will 
 stand out frorn all the other days of your life. It is a day to 
 which you have long looked forward with prayerful anxiety; 
 and oh which you will look back with sblemn interest to all 
 eternity. I am exceedingly anxious to do all in my power 
 to make the day a blessing, to all the other (fays of your 
 existence. In order to this, I want to give you a little 
 advice— advice taught me by God's Word, and my own 
 experience. I wish to take, aS my guide in this work, the 
 second ver^e In the fourth chapter of the:First Epistle to the 
 Corinthians — 
 
 ■ '-vr, ■ ■■ ,' : -■■ ■- ■"■,^ ■ ■ ■ ■: . "■-■ : ■ 
 
 " It la required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.* 
 
 I. Note m office you sustain—" Stewards of the Mysteries 
 cfGod:^ 
 
 The work of the ministry is so comprehensive, and import- 
 ant, and honou^ble, that no one word is sufficient to describe 
 it. Hence a variety of names are employed, each having . 
 some special &^ning, and thus giving new light as to ite^ 
 duties. Ministers are spoken of as "Men of God," as 
 "Labourers," as ^' Builders," as "rishers,"^as" Watchmen" 
 —here, and in other parts of Scripture, they are spoken of as 
 
 J ^.*^'^«® deliveied at the Ordination of sixty-three young Ministers in 
 the Kingston Chapel, Hull. ' — e -^^t-w" »« 
 
 '■M. 
 
\. 
 
 I, 
 
 .\ 
 
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 'I ■ 
 
 ' 'm ■ 
 
 \ ■ 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 
 *' Stewatds.-' A Steward is a person who is employed to take 
 charge of the propert/ of another; and I am anxious to 
 impress upon your min(^s the fact that this is the office you 
 sustain. You are not proprietors, dealing with that which is 
 your own, and therefbro having a right to use it as you 
 please ; you are stewards; dealing with that which belongs to 
 God, and theteforje bound to deal with it in all things accord- 
 ing to His pleasure. To this office you cannot appoint 
 yourself, nor can you be appoin1:ed by your fellow-servanta 
 A steward can only be appointed to the office by the pro- 
 prietor. "No man taketh this honours unto himself, but 
 he that is called of God." This call you have had. Those 
 around you heard not the voice, and when you spoKe 
 of it first, perhaps, like Eli with Samuel, they doubted. 
 With you, however, there was no doubt. The voice 
 was clear and distinct, and you had no choice but toe 
 obey. You said, " Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." 
 You then oliered yourself to the Church, but so anxious 
 were we that we should not recognise one whom God had 
 not called, that you were met at-every step with the solemn 
 question — -" Do you believe that God has called you to this 
 work ? " This question has been put for the last tima " 
 before this congregation, and in the presence of earth and 
 heaven, of God and man, you have answered, " I trust ^o." 
 With this decla^ion w^e are satisfied, and we have in /the. 
 most solemnyway avowed our satisfaction. We have not 
 / laid hands suddenly upon you, but have taken every 
 possible ppcaution, and employed every possible test, to 
 prevent mistake. And now our part is done. Your 
 declaration we unhesitatingly receive, and we greet you as 
 our fellow-stewards in this glorious and importanf trust. 
 ■ We in the most solemn and. formal raanner possible 
 recognise your appointment to this high office^ and we 
 welcome you into our ranks. Henceforth you are to be 
 knawn as "men of God," as men consecrated, and set apart. 
 
 
 ' ■ ■ t " 
 
 
''' v FAITHFUL \STEWARDSHIP. ^ 
 
 for the g^f vice of God, and humanity. Yon are now God's 
 «pecial pr6perty, and you lare henceforth to devote alt your 
 time, and talents, and powers, to His service. It is to be 
 your life work. In the sunny mornipg of youth» the 
 sultry noon of manhood, and amid the shadows of bid age, 
 you are to be the stewards of the Most High God. We 
 give you our greetings, dur sympathy, our prayers ; but the 
 grace to be faithful mustf be obtaiined from Him whom you 
 serve. You believe it |o be the will of your'Divine Master 
 that you should 4)e ejriployed in the Methodist branch of 
 His Church. Yoa have studied its doctrines, and polity, 
 and are satisfied that they are in harmoby with the teach- 
 ing of God's Word, and you have, after much thought and 
 ^ prayer, f^lt it to be God's will that you should offer you r- 
 " jselves for the work of the ministry in-the Methodist Church. 
 'After much examination and prayer, the Church has received 
 you. You are, now Methodist ministers; and a higher 
 position you cannot have this side heaven. 
 
 God has done His part. We have; done ours. .$ee that 
 ^ you do youro. ^^^ ^ ^^ 
 
 II. The Charge with ivhich you are entrusted. 
 
 It is of supreme importance that you should accurately 
 ascertain the nature and extent of the trust committed to 
 your care. Without this it will be impossible for you to 
 know yourduty, or to understand your responsibility. It 
 is clear that you have a trust beyond that committed to 
 ordinary Christians, As Christians you are admitted into 
 Christ's army; as ministers you ^re officers in that army: 
 as Christians you have to take heed to yourselves ; as 
 ministers you have to care for others. It is a high honour, 
 but it brings with it great responsibility. 
 
 A steward will not only make himself thoroughly ac- 
 
 ; qnainted with the trust committed to his 'care, but he Will 
 
 carefully examine the directions under which lie is to act 
 
 ;/ 
 
 r>i. 
 
 ■% 
 
,.,.,. ^^^, .,..,. 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 *;■ ♦•, 
 
 His one consfnnt, guiding, question will be, What is the will 
 of the proprietor ? and when tliat question is answered, he 
 has no choice but to render prompt obedience. What then, 
 I ask, is the trust which is committed td^your care ? It i» 
 clear that in many respects your gifts will differ, and that 
 you will be called to a yariety of work. Th6re is no 
 monotony in any of God's works, and there is none in the 
 ministry. When we read what oiir divine Master said 
 about th6 stewardship, we are told that one had one talent, 
 another two, and another five. The Apostle Paul, in hid 
 . letter to the Ephesians, says that God "gave some apostles, 
 and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors 
 and teachers; and that this variety was for the perfecting 
 of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the 
 edifying of the body of Christ." In his lette^^to the Corin- 
 thians he dwells upon this variety, saying that there were 
 diversities of gifts; that one was pre-eminent for wisdom; 
 another for knowledge ; another for faith ; another for the 
 gift of preaching ; another for the working of mimcles ; 
 another/or prophecy, and so on, . And then he goes on to 
 say that God has set some in. the Church-— -first, apostles ; 
 secondarily, prophets ; thirdly, teachers ; after that, mijracles y 
 then, gifts of teaching; helps, governments, diversity of 
 tongues ; and warns us against expecting every gift in all. 
 That some were to be remarkable for one talent, and sOine 
 for another, and that God qualifies every man for the special 
 work he is called to do. It is important that you should 
 ever bear this in mind, to lead you to ascertain the nature 
 of the gift that is in you, and to prevent your being dis- 
 couraged because you cannot do the work that others are 
 doing. It should also be borne in mind by the people, 
 that they may not form unreasonable .expectations re- 
 specting you, but that they may derive all possible benefit 
 from the varied blessings which God designs you' to xjonvey*. 
 Having thus reminded you that you are not alike, but 
 
 ;x- 
 
 .-I 
 
Ix 
 
 /. 
 
 , ^ ■■ FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP, 5 
 
 that you (Jilfer in your ability, and thefeforo in the work 
 
 to which you will be fiyssigned, 1 turn to the trust committed 
 
 to your care — the special trust committed to you ijis minis- ->- 
 
 tors, and fts ministers in the Methodist Church, i 
 
 First, There i.s tub glorious Gospel God has said to /V 
 each of. you, " Go thou and preach the Gospel." You are to 
 hear the word from God's mouth, and declare it to the 
 people. You are to speak as the oracles of God. You may 
 each afty with the Apostle Paul, "The glorious Gospel of the 1 -_- 
 blessed God is committed to my trust," "a dispensation of - 
 the Gospel is committed unto me," This is a high honour, 
 but it brings with it tremendous responsibilities. You are 
 to give yourselves to the Word of God, and to prayer. 
 Take care that you do it. "Give yourselves wholly to it, 
 that you may save yourselves, and them that hear you*" 
 As Wesleyan ministers, you Jiavo a full Gospel to preach, 
 you have no limit either aS to its extent, or its power. You 
 know that it is "glad tidings of great joy for all people," and 
 that it can " save to the uttermost." See that you preach it 
 always, and everywhere. You cannot go to the vt^rong place, 
 and you cannot meet with the wrong man. Go then as 
 *• the messengers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ," 
 and wherever you go, deliver your glorious message. Don't 
 be teinpted to any inferior work. If science, or philosophy, 
 or politics, invite your attention, tell them tliat you are 
 doing a greater work, and therefore cannot come down to. 
 them. Tell them that though they can do many important 
 things in their inferior sphere, that they cannot save a soul, 
 or purify a heart, or make a sinner meet for heaven ; but 
 that you have that which can do it all: that the Gospel 
 you preach is tl>e pow«r of God unto salvation. Take care 
 therefore that you preach the Gospel Don't offer stones 
 when sent with the bread: of life. Preach the Gospel ; not L 1 J. 
 half the Gospel, or some phase of the|3ospel merely, but 
 the whole Gospel, and not the Gospel Sid something else 
 

 ,i 
 
 FAJTIIIUL STEWAlWSlilR 
 
 dnikenin;,' your connsel by wortls witliout wiadnm ; Init tell 
 oil men, b'vtriywlK'iv,_tliut you Uriii^' tliein "glad ti<linj,'8 of 
 great joy," timt CJ««1 i.s in Christ, nhlti, willing, waitings 
 • longing, to save tlioni all. In order to this, Htudy God'* 
 Word carefully ; bo men of one book. Let tlio Jliblu be 
 j'our central sun; sec that you know it well. Value other 
 books only ns they help you to understand this — bo like 
 the early Methodi-tt preachers, mi«j!hty in the Scriptures. 
 Meditate upon it day and. night — study it on your knees*— 
 get at the hidden meaning — let the secret of the Lord bd 
 ^vith you, the power from on high— honour God's Word, and 
 He will honour you. 1 
 
 Preach it crtr/ic«%. Siived ' yourselves, let it be the 
 business 'of your life to save others. Let yours be no 
 ofHeiul life, no perfunctory service. A cold, dull, merely 
 intellectuftl sermon, is out of place in any pulpit, but. espe- 
 cially in ours. Think of the interests involved in the rights 
 discharge of your duty. Think of the value of the soul — 
 of its peril— of i its possibilities of ogony, and of bliss. 
 Think of the multitudes around you who never open a Bible, 
 or bend a knee/or breathe a prayer. Think of the hell to 
 -which -they, are hastening, of the heaven which is open to 
 receive them, fhiiik of -wh«t_ Ciirist has done to moke 
 their solvatipn possible ; ° of the anxlet3rofiJo4--lhr their 
 salvation; of the presence, and marvellous work, of the Soly 
 Spirit, to lead them to come to Christ, and heaven. See 
 heaven open, and hell open ; try to realize the fearful posi- 
 tion of those to whom you> ore speaking, and let your eyes 
 affect your heart Be miseruble il souls are not saved. 
 Give God no rest till He clothes you with salvation; and 
 when you enter the pulpit, ' 
 
 . "Preach as if you ne'er would preach again, r'. ' 
 
 And as ji dying man to dying men." 
 
 Preach it <«nrf?7-/y. This is involved in what t have 
 just said; but I want to impress it upon you, because I 
 
FAJTUrUL STM WARDSHIP, 
 
 am quite auro that your acceptability, nnd Buccess, will 
 greatly clepeiul upon it. I have hoartl men Mjujak of (Jod'a 
 love, and the sinner's danger, as if they were mere tall\ing 
 maehine.s, and not living men. Guard against this. I , 
 know there is a great deal of dilFerence in your men'tal 
 constitution. That sotne are natuiaily cold, and stolid, 
 while others are naturally warm, and emotional; but grace, 
 must conquer nature— Uod can take away the stony heart, 
 and give u heart of flush. If you aria of a stolid tempera- 
 ment, conquer it. Get the mind of Christ — catch the 
 spirit of the great apostle who wept as he wrote, and spoke, 
 of sinners. Iteveal their danger to sinner^, not in angej", 
 nor controversiaHy, but with ejuivering voice, antl tears of 
 sympathy ;' as those who see tlieir djinger, and know their 
 value. i)on't speak as if you were of another race, or aa 
 if you were a judge, and they the criminals ; but speak as 
 one just rescued from the same peril, and who has come to 
 
 . tell them the way of esca^. Let your congregation feel 
 that you are one of themwilves, and that you understand 
 their position, their longings^ their sins, and their sorrows— 
 that you sympathize with them in the struggle in which 
 they are engaged, and that it id your highest joy to speak 
 to them a cheering word, or to lend them a helping hand. 
 
 Preach it constantljf. Give yourselves wholly to your 
 work. As I have already hinted, you will often be tempted' 
 to turn aside from it Literature in its various forms will 
 
 "tempt , some of you ; science will hold out its prizes to 
 others; and the le.cture- hall will attract not a few. You 
 will be appealed to on every side ; the tempter 'may even 
 come as an angel of light If you yield to the tempta- " 
 tion, you may gain popularity, and fame, and worldly 
 recompense^fcit you will be shorn of your strength, and 
 thus have to pay a heavy penalty. I have rarely known 
 Or heard of a minister yielding to these teraptations, who 
 kept his spiritual power, or retained his wisdom to win 
 
" 
 
 Wi 
 
 ^s^ 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 w 
 
 
 ,'•' *' 
 
 t. 
 
 
 '"'. ' . :' 
 
 :[: 
 
 8 
 
 FAlTnFUL STEWARDSfflP. 
 
 80tik I any, theroforo, with nil tho carnofltness of my sonl, 
 
 rejoi-t tlie temptation. ^ If you wore not a mi»i8t«r it would 
 
 be another thing, but God has called you to a nobler work. 
 
 If the apostle thought It was l)eneath him to leave tho 
 
 Word of (lod, and serve the tables on ^which provision was 
 
 made for the Ghristion widows; we ought not to leave the 
 
 Word of God, and the proclamation of the (Jospel, to gratify 
 
 pur tastes, or to win the applause of a thoughtless multi- 
 
 tu«le. In saying tiiiR, Ido not refer to what you may do 
 
 as a relaxation, or under special circumstances, but I do 
 
 say there is no work out of heaven so glorious as that to 
 
 which you are called. There is no work so profitable, 
 
 so blessed, so improving^to yourselves, so beneficial tp 
 
 otliers, so pleasing to Oo^s preaching the Gospel. To 
 
 this work God has called you, for this work He has 
 
 qualified you, to this work the Church has invited you, 
 
 to this work you have pledged yourselves, and I pray you 
 
 do not abandon it. Determine tp know nothing among 
 
 men, (but Jesus Christi and Him crucified. 
 
 Especiailly, don't forget that you are Methotlist preacljers, 
 and that we have a good reason for our existence. While 
 holding all the great .fundamental doctrines of the Catholic 
 Church, God seems to have raised us np to testify to the 
 universality of His redeeming love, and the ihfinite power 
 of the Holy Ghost to renew, and sanctify the soul. I 
 know, and rejoice to know, that many in all the orthodox 
 Churches, have been led to receive, and enjoy, these 
 doctrines; yet there are many who question them, and 
 net a few who deny them altogether. You must there- 
 fore see Uwt on these points your trumpet gives a certain 
 sound. L<>t your congregations know that God loves 
 them all,' that Christ has died for them all, and that the 
 Holy Ghost is" present to renew, and sanctify them all; 
 deliver the old message, with the old power, and you 
 may rely on seeing the same results. You are received 
 
 I ■ , . V, 
 
 
■ ' ■ ' : ■ f 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. ■ 9 
 
 to do a certain work, in a certain way; bgo that you do 
 it. You aro hencufoith not fre« to choose. Ikjvvaro of any 
 mental reservation. You are a Methodist preacher, and you 
 are houiid, therefore, as long as you l)ear that name, clearly, 
 and distinctly, to preach the doctrines which wo profess. 
 
 The second part of your trust is tuk CiiURCii. I uso 
 this word in the widest possible sense, for hy it I mean 
 the people over whom you aro placed from year to year ; 
 and l»y the people, I mean not oidy the menibers of Society, 
 but all who are in atiy degree associated with the chapels 
 itttd preaching places, in the various Circuits to which you 
 are appointed. You were told in the ordination service 
 that you are called " to teach, and to premonish, to feed, 
 and to provide, for, the lord's family; to seek for Christ's 
 sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for His children 
 who are in thQ midst of this naughty world, that they 
 may be saved through Christ fcuj^ver." For the good 
 of these people you iire to live ancrlabour, and I want to 
 give you a few suggestions to guide you in your work. 
 
 First, give yourself heart and soul to the work of yreach- 
 imj. As Weftleyan niiuistcrs you are called especially to 
 be preuchera. Somb other of the Churches have an elaborate 
 ritual, and the Sermon occupies an inferior place; but it is 
 not so With us, and I trust it never will be. In most of 
 our chapels our modes of worship are very simple, and the 
 success of the service depends on our power in prayer, and 
 our power as preachers. As preachers our fathers won 
 their position among the Churclies, tind as preachers we 
 must retain it. Ds^t it ^e your business to excelin this. 
 Get into the habit of Sermon -making. Keep it ever 
 before you. Let it be your central object. Read for it; 
 think for it; visit for it; pray tor it; and make every- 
 thing tributary to it, Always have a sermon on hand; 
 don't be content with the work of the past. The itiner- 
 ancy oilers a strong temptation to this, and the tempta-^ 
 
 '♦» • 
 
 ■■ -i 
 
 "'•Ht 
 
 -fea 
 

 ■* :'^., 
 
 it- 
 
 .J^ 
 
 ^^- 
 
 :\fl' 
 
 lo FAtrni'UL ^TEWAHDL 
 
 jtion is Ittcreowd by tlio iiinkitU(li)ref|j«Uj^M irjiHdflnt to 
 
 OUf Circuit ftrrann^i'inciitH. To|Jft|l<n[cWifiH Uitniiiatioii 
 
 ii to liiikt and fail. 'i'i»'..,J^P«»« d lyiii'titioii of a 
 
 sermon, from wliicli tliu^Jifo liiwll«f{m*t*^,- is un injury 
 
 to ourHolvcB, and * wrong to the poopio to wltoiu we 
 
 niiniHlwr. One of oui* wwiltliy men om-retl mo X'oOO 
 
 for the Ministern' Ihnt Fund if I could p»T«iiad« all the 
 
 niinisterH to hurn their old AjriuouM, and bi!gin wfreHh. 
 
 This con h«n|Iy !»« done, hut making new sermons will 
 
 wondc^ifuliy reinvigorate the old ones. Seo to it that your 
 
 sermouH bo chnracterlzetl hy variety, freshness, and life. 
 
 If you make the IJiblo your storehouse, you will easily 
 
 ^succeed in this. Look at the I'urjtans, and at our MethoVlist 
 
 forefathers, and you will find thiH gloriously illustrated. 
 
 They breathetian atmosphcro of Scripture, and it iHMvadf«l 
 
 all their thoughts and words. Their sermons throb with 
 
 Biblical life. Vou will find that ottCntion to visiting will 
 
 greatly assist you in this work. The variety of experience 
 
 that you will m(^t with, will suggest a constant variety ^f 
 
 subjects, while^ustmtiotis, full of point and beauty, will be 
 
 |.. P»^*'«»ted in amtm^l)on\L^t JirfivVesley's advice 
 
 to his preutdiuMp^P' u iooWd." Loud preaching is 
 
 always a niistinjfiit exhausts the preacher, and do.-8 not 
 
 benefit the congregation. Be thoroughly iii earnest, but 
 
 husband your strength ; and remember that it is not thke 
 
 thunder, but the lightning, that does the ej^ecution. Oiie 
 
 of the first plans I remeinber had at the bottom of ih.i Mai 
 
 of preachers, a verse that had in it a Mole system ' 
 
 elocutiou— . ^ , ^. ^ 
 
 ■■■ ;i;. ■■ .- ■ : •■ ■,;^^ ■ \^J'f ' *_ .. ;: ' 
 
 "Begin low, riM slow ; tike flWi^s^^WlV 
 
 Another pa,t Of Mr. Wesley's advice \h$o^thetoo lomr 
 11.18 also is ibod advide Long preafcM.^r^is >%earine88 to. 
 ..^^.flT®'."'"' **" '"J"'"^ ^"^ the preatli^-^ ri'jou are nqt 
 
 ^^t]^; a;id if you ara 
 
 m earnest, the sooaer yow stop the 
 
 .'& 
 
 W-- 
 
 ■A. 
 
 /\ 
 

 4 
 
 /AirilFUl STEWARDSHIP. ii 
 
 in eftrno«r, \m^ pr«aetiing fa rIow «ti!olde. Uttf ikfiVr«Mr In 
 thu Tiioiiiiti^', Hii«l thr(<f;-(|UiirttM-s ot' fin lipur at|||g)tt, na, ifi & 
 ruU), nei liiiicli u» thu' [Xiuplti wuiit, aii4 an iv^^ n<3 y"U^ 
 ouglit to give. . * ^ 
 
 l( yoii wi«*li tlio Olwirch over wliirli you ftv« 
 pr<mi)«r, conHcii'iitioimlji* l<e«j> your appoiiitniuius 
 your prt'uitliin^ ap|t(kMtfcnu!nt«. You will liuve, 
 thett, to viaH- ttittl htrlp t^t h«tr Oircuitn, but tjh* i 
 as possible. Couu'ts hctwo a purpose, but tbo pi 
 more vnlu^l>lu to tbo Uiiirliier ; iitMl, us a rulo, you 
 tbul tbo Cburcb pros|)era pore utider tbe <mre of til 
 carul'ully keep to tbeir ovni work, tbaii it doe/i u 
 iiiiriistJy of those who ure tver oil tbe wheels. T 
 iu^of our (Miople ioratrongtra in tbe pujpit, isan unlMitfthy 
 result of the itinerancy, oind it is wise in aU of ut^a 
 check it as much as -possiUe. In order to this, alwJ|| 
 give your people your best. Never tiifle with, or denpmi, 
 a congregation, They be \m few, and poor, and unedu- 
 cated, but they are a part of the Church over which the 
 Holy Ghost has made you overseer, and He is over prequnt 
 to see how you discharge younduty. 
 
 J^astoral visiting is another part of your d|Aty— a duqir 
 that is only second to tbe preaching of tbov Gospel. . The 
 want of tills is widely felt, and you should give yourselve*; 
 to it most religiously. Whatever you may do beside, yoa 
 can never be a faithful ste\yard 1^ you neglect this; arid il^ 
 you attend to it faithfully, I cab prohiise you a successful 
 .'career, an4 a glorious reward. I-know that unreasonable- 
 expectatiitfis are entertained as ta what you can do in this 
 matter. Our people sometimes expect us to visit as niucli 
 as a Congregational, or Episcopalian, minister. They forget 
 that they have tbe class-meeting, of which others know 
 nothing J that the clergyman often gives sermonets, while^ 
 you are expected to give sermons ; that you have a much 
 wider are a to cover; that you rfo mo o t th e m quarterly, for 
 
 ^ 
 
 /■ 
 
 
 '^<" 
 
 "N,: 
 
«9 
 
 FAITHFUL STE WAkDSHJP. 
 
 .directly spiritual counsels and advice, and tliat it is the 
 business of the class-leader to see them every week, and to 
 
 V 'report to you any special -need for a pastoral visit ; and 
 that, therefore, nothing'^ cafc--tte jnoje minute than the 
 spiritual oversight insurQd^ii>VMeO>Oclism, if its rules are 
 
 ; properly carried out. But^^le ^fhiitting all this, there ^ 
 
 ' is still a great, and profitff|;|l6, work to be done in this 
 •direction. ^ 
 
 "T .*^ame of you will be appointed to country Circuits, and 
 jft better'appdntment for body, and soul, you cannot have. 
 .It is in these' Circuits that pastoral attention is especially 
 heeded, iii many of our villages there is a widespread 
 and determined effort being made to exterminate Method- 
 ism. Local influence, and ecclesiastical power, are- being 
 -combined to make religious liberty impossible. Metfibdism 
 is being misrepresented, and denounced ; and Methodists 
 who are true to their principles are exposed to a. species 
 of boycotting, as complete as the ability of the men who 
 employ it. These people have to fight a battle of which 
 townsmen know nothing. Have they iio claim upon, us? 
 and do we tfwe them no service ? About this there can 
 be no question. How then can this service be rendered ? 
 certainly not by hurrying in by train, preaching a brief 
 sermon, and hurrying out again. There must he sacrifice 
 and self-denial. We must give the people careful pastoral 
 dversight— not one must be overlpoked. I trust that, at 
 all costs, you will resolve to maintain the Methodism which 
 our fathers laboured anrd suffered so much to create ; and , 
 that you will fioj care for the villages, that tyranny and 
 bigotry will be defeated, and' religious liberty maintained 
 
 , to the latest geneilrrttions. If we forsake the' villages God 
 will forsake us. This rests mainly with you, and I trust 
 
 jrou Will realize your responsibility, and seek grace to be' 
 
 feithfui. '^..r.L.^.:-:-, .:':■:,::: :^:,.^^-/ J ^ 
 
 * Others of you will be called to labour in the large towns 
 
 W^ 
 
 U<*n 
 
 ■"N*" 
 
*t ■■■«.■"■ 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP, 
 
 >3 
 
 and cities, and here other evils will present themselves, 
 but I trust you will prove equal to the work demanded of 
 you. 
 
 In the work of visitation you have much to encourage 
 ftnd help you. In the first place, our people ex]ptct to be 
 visited ; hence every Methodist door is open to you, and 
 every Methodist family is waiting to welcome you. Others 
 have to win the confidence of those among whom they 
 m<^ve. With you it is riot so; your ordination to-day, 
 and your -continued recognition by this Conference, gives 
 you Iree access to all our people. When you enter the 
 Circuit every Methodist knows you are come, and every 
 boy, and girl, and servant, in a Methodist home, is expecting 
 your appearance. This is an immense privilege, and I 
 pray you see that it be not neglected. If the Great Head 
 of the Church has thus opened your way, see that you 
 walk in it. If He has thus rendered the people accessible, 
 see that you be their wise and diligent pastor. A second 
 advantage which you possess, is your freedom from depend- 
 ence upon any individual. You will be supported by 
 the whole people, and your support will be guaranteed 
 to the end of your life. Methodism has no prisses to offer, 
 and no blanks from which to shrink. As long as you 
 are faithful, you will be sure of a Circuit. This will give 
 yoft an independence which is of great value. See then 
 that with these advantages you give' yourselves heartily 
 to your work. By pastoral care, I do not mean a mere 
 formal visit to, a family. I mean that freedom from clerical 
 iciness — that friendliness, that accessibleness, which charac- 
 terized your Divine Master, and His apostles, and which 
 distinguished the early Methodist preachers. Live so that, 
 like the apostles, your very shadow falling upon men may 
 be g^ benediction. Have a look of recognition, a kindly 
 grasp of the hand, a word of cheer, or sympathy, for.aU 
 your people. Condescend to men of low estate andJrer 
 
 m 
 
 % 
 
 ^■ 
 
 \^ 
 
 ,_v^_ 
 
t^H'f 
 
 I 
 
 14 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. ' ' 
 
 member you are never more like your Master than when 
 jou are thus doing. 
 
 But while I say this, I also say, let there be, wherever 
 needed, the formal visit. Divide the town, or district, 
 into subdivisions; enter the names, and addresses, of thosa 
 jou have Access to; leave nothing to memory, or accident. 
 Then visit tlieni reg:tWarly, thou2|wt; may be only once a 
 quarter, and make an entry of^t]|pP&te of each visit; this 
 will enable you to satisfy yM^'"«i^'science, and to silence 
 the complaints of unreason{tt)l^!?»men. Be sure and visit 
 your occasional hearers; let them see that if they don't 
 acknowledge you, you acknowledge /them. To no class 
 will your visits, be nlore Welcome, and to none will they 
 be more profitable. The husband, who rarely comes to 
 ohapel, will prize the visit you pay to his wife, and children, 
 and every visit will be a new bond to bind him to you, 
 and to the Church you represent. Cai-e also for those 
 wJio did run ivell, but wJiom somethimj has hindered. The 
 SHddest item in our Methodist returns, is the column 
 headed "Ceased to meet." The history of many of the 
 names recordjed there would wring tlie heart with anguish, 
 or crimson the cheek with shame. Many of them are lost, 
 I fear, through ministerial neglect, and not a few through 
 ministerial unwisdom. These cs^es are soqietimes difficult 
 to deal with, j^d " you will have ijeed to have all your wits 
 about you ; " liTut you must make the attempt. Keep care- 
 fully from being mixed" up With old quarrels; let them 
 know that your only object is their welfare. Many of them 
 have lost their 'religion, and as the result, they have lost 
 all relish for our social means jof grace. Theirs is a case 
 of unutterable grief, and you must seek alter them with 
 all seeking. No matter what the cause of their leaving us i 
 have been, they are lost *sheepi and you, as their shepherd, 
 are bound to spare no pain^ for their recovery. Think 
 of their sorrows, of their peril, of their miseiy^— care for 
 
 Hm niMinkMvcwKM 
 
FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP, 
 
 >S 
 
 them tenderly, continuously, prayerfully — and who knows 
 but that you may give joy to Heaven, by bringing the 
 "^•odigal back to his father ? 
 
 Care dho for the, Children. You may not have any 
 natural inclination for this work, but you are bound to do 
 it if you would be successful in your stewardship. I ant 
 satisfied that the children of Methodism have been greatly^ 
 neglected. It is one of our weak places— a* weak place, 
 almost necessarily resulting from our organization. A 
 stationary minister knows his Iambs, and ' is known of 
 them. He offers themi to God in baptism, and is the 
 g.ui(le of their youth. He is in close, and tender, relation- 
 ship to them, at the most sensitive, and impressionable, 
 age; and, as the natural result, they grow up with a love 
 and reverence for liim that they cannot give to strangers. 
 We have to sacrifice a great deal of ttiis^- the invaluable 
 blessing of the itinerancy. But still our interest, and duty, 
 should lead us to endeavour to minify this disadvantage to 
 the smallest possible degree. Get to know the children of 
 your people, go oiit of the way to show sympathy with 
 them. Interest yourselves in their amusements, and em- 
 ployments. Talk to them about their reading, help them 
 in their difficulties, and encourage them in every possible 
 way to regard you as their friend. 
 
 Be sure and hold in all your Circuits a Saturday after- 
 noon children's meeting. Make it interestyig; have plenty 
 of singing, and don't keep them long. If there is a Day- 
 school in your Circuit, visit it regularly. Let the children 
 feel that it is a Methodist establishment. In this way 
 you will secure the interest of the children, and every 
 right- niinded teacher will give you a hearty welcome. 
 
 Give special attention to the Sunday schools. You will 
 find this of great advantage ; visit them as often as possible, 
 and prepare your addresses carefully. If you can secure 
 the attention of children, you will never fail with adults. 
 
 ■\ 
 

 :,-« 
 
 z6 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 \ . 
 
 That is the place to make you roaster of your "subject, to 
 prune and strengthen your style, and to prepare you for 
 other, and What may be more attractive work. 
 
 Care for tlie poor ; many of these are rich in faith, but 
 they have many temporal privations and disadvantages. 
 They are, however, Christ's representatives, and it is 
 at the peril of His frown if they be] neglected or. over- 
 looked. 
 
 Above all, and before all, care for tJie sorrowing! and 
 suffering. Their claim upon your is supreme. Don't wait 
 to be invited; the knowledge of their sorrow and suffering 
 is a sufficient invitation. The more spontaneous your visit, 
 the more welcome it will be. Make everything give way 
 to this— your pleasure, your friendships, your tastes, yo^r 
 studies, your Sundays* sermons, all must bow to this. Arid* 
 when you enter the scene of sorrow, do it tenderly, as a 
 minister of Christ.*'* If you can do anything to alleviate 
 the sorrow, never spare yourself, or your time. It may be 
 the kindly word will be enough, but it may be the helping 
 hand, will be needed; if so, give it cheerfully, remembering 
 that your reward is in heaven. 
 
 Take hold also of all agencies that will help you to accom- 
 plish your work Despise nothing, undervalue nothing, and 
 seek to profit by the experience of those who have gone 
 before you. Your one object is to glorify God and bless 
 your fellow-men. . Whatever will do this you should welcome 
 and assist. Help aUlocal organizations for the benefit of 
 the people. Some of our ministers have allowed their 
 modesty to keep them from taking their right place in 
 these benevolent movements, and Methodism has suffered 
 as the result. Identify yourselves with the Bible Society, 
 the Tract Society, the Societies for benefiting soldiers, and 
 sailors. Especially, for your own sakes, and for the sake 
 of your people, use all your influence for the destruction 
 of the national sin of Intemperance. You will meet with 
 
, FAiTffFUL STE WARDSHIP. 
 
 n 
 
 /its terrible efl'ect^ wherever you go. It has dragged the 
 preacher from the pulpit, and the member from the pew. 
 Its history, like the roll of the prophet, is written within 
 aud without, with mourning, lamentation, and woe. If you 
 gain the confidence of your people, yqii will find tiiat every 
 Circuit has its histories, that will miike you tremble and 
 weep. As Methodist preachers, you are bouud not to 
 
 in most 
 
 was the 
 
 not 
 
 before the 
 
 Thdugh 
 
 ignore this crying sin. Mr. Wesley in thiSj as 
 other things, set us an excellent example. He 
 foremost Temperance reformer of his- day. 
 an abstainer, living as he did a hundred years 
 introduction of total abstinence, he lived up to the light 
 I»e had, and was far in' advance of his contemporaries. 
 He denounced the evil of drunkenness wherever ho went> 
 and did all in his power to rescue its victims from its 
 destructive thraldeim. He warned the menibers, and 
 ministers, of his Societies, asainst the danger of usinj; 
 
 ■■..■■■ v . ■ . ' w ■ ■ ■ V O 
 
 spirituous liquorsy and he besought them for their own 
 sakes, and the sake of others, never to use them except 
 for medicinal purposes. Thus- by his teaching, and example, 
 he did all in his power to ^destroy this terrible evil. I 
 pray you to go and. do likewise. For my own part I have 
 found it to be an immense advantage to be an Abstainer. 
 It has benefited my health, it has /increased my happi- 
 ness, and it has greatly widened niy sphere of usefulness. 
 It hjis shielded me from temptation, and danger, and it 
 has^nabled me to rescue maiiy of those who were wounded 
 dnd fallen. It has blessed me, and made me a blessins. 
 and believing that you want to live to the best possible 
 purpose, i. heartily, and confidently, recommend it to you. ' 
 Begin your work as'soon as you enter the Circuit. If 
 you stay your full time you will find that your ihiee 
 years are soon gone. The deinands upon you will be 
 80 many, that if you are not prompt, and decided, you 
 will find the term filled up with profitless good intentions. 
 
 — — ■ —^ — '- ^ — — — B — ■ — — 
 
 -::/■ 
 
(■ 
 
 Ri' '■ 
 
 r, 
 ■ •■ 
 
 i8 
 
 FAITHFUL STE WARDSHIP, 
 
 Besides, you will find the first months of your residence in- 
 a Circuit specially valuabl'^ as a seed time. An old 
 preacher, when I was entering the ministry, cheered nie, 
 by saying — "You need not fear to go to any Circuit to 
 which you are appointed, for I have npticed that all the 
 preachers ore popular till Cliristmas." There is a great 
 deal in this, and it shows (ihe imniense importance of your 
 Seizing the precious weeks in which everybody is believing 
 you to be pre-eminently suited for their requirements, in 
 order that, before the frost of prejudice can liftrden the 
 soil, you may sow the good seed of tire kingdom. Don't 
 hoed tlie cynics who talk about new brooms sweeping 
 clean. Tell them that you have learnt to strike while the 
 iron is hot, and to sail when the wind, and tide, are favour- 
 able. I know that all this will he a heavy tax upon your 
 . titne, and strength. But I take it for granted that you 
 have not entered the ministry, for "a morsel of bread," or 
 for social position, or that ^ou 'may live a life of learned 
 leisure. If you have, you have done a deed that might 
 nijike a demon tremble. An idle minister is a monster 
 that should be hooted from Society. An idle muiister is a 
 oriminal against whom God's fiercest ajiger will blaze in" the- 
 great day of His coming. But, brethren, jl am persuaded* 
 better things of you. You haye entered our ranks " to do 
 the wOrk Of the ministry." You arfe sensible of the high 
 honour which is conferred upon "youj^ but you are also 
 tremblingly sensible of the tremendous responsibility which 
 is laid upon, you ; you feel that : 
 
 " Tis not a work of smnll import 
 
 The pastor's jpare iJemaiKls ; ~ 
 
 But work to till an 'angel's heart, • 
 \; And filled th${ Saviour's hanJa."- ' . 
 
 See, then, that you set about this work jn a right spirit 
 and in a right way. See that your time is rightly divided 
 and rightly employed. Don't drift : steer, and row. Have 
 
 I III 
 
 
FAITHFUL STEWARDSIim 
 
 
 a pnrposej and work on a plnn. You will find tliaJ tlipre 
 is a wonderful Iianuony in your work, if you go about it in 
 a right way. One kind of work will greatly help the 
 other. Your social work, if done for Ciirist, as it niuat be 
 if it is done well, will greatly help the spiritual; your 
 visiting will greatly aid your preaching; and your preach- 
 ing will wonderfully open your way to the homes, and 
 hearts when you visit. Thus, warning every man, and 
 teaching every man, you may hope at last to present every 
 man perftjot in Christ. 
 
 III. TTie expectation tKat is entertained respectivg you, 
 "It is required in stewards, that a man be found fnithlul." 
 
 This is a most solemn, and yet encouraging thought. It. 
 shows us that God is not a hard Master. That nothing 
 unreasonable is expected of you. That you are not 
 responsible for anything that you do not possesi. Tlmt you 
 are not expected to make bricks without straw. That God 
 does not expect every man to do the same work, hut that 
 every man is called, and qualified, to do a ceitain work, and 
 that God expects him to do it.* Tliat we are not to judge 
 one another, nor measure ourselves by others ; but try to 
 do our o\yn work, and leave our fellow-servants to their 
 own Master. 
 
 It also shows us that we ftre not responsible for the 
 results of our work, but for doing that work well. The 
 agricultural labourer is responsible for the ploughing and 
 sowing, but never for the, crop; he may be bitterly dis- 
 appointed at the failure of the harvest, but no one would 
 think/gf uttering a word of blame. And so with the 
 minister: he may faithfully discharge his duties, 'and yet 
 have a scanty harvest ; but no one would think of censur- 
 ing him; lie has been faithful, and God requires no mora 
 While, however, there is a cheering side to this declaration^ 
 it has a teaching full of solemnity. While it shove's us that 
 
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 >!■■■. 
 
 

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 ^ 
 
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 V«r. 
 
 ao 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 God does not expect us to bo some one else, it shows tlint 
 He does expect us to make the best of ourselves. Thiit 
 while He does not hold us responsible for what we have 
 not received, He does ludd us responsible for the right use 
 of all we have received. I therefore With oil possible 
 earnestness would remind you each that you are expectetl 
 to he faith/itl. In order to this, do your best to fit your- 
 self for your K^'cat work ; an imperfect instrument can 
 never do a perfect work, and the work to which you are 
 called is so delicate, and so important, that the most perfect 
 itistrument is needed for its successful accomplishment. 
 Make the best df yourselves. You have said to God and 
 "the Church, 
 
 " Tiilce my soul and body's powers* 
 
 Tttke my memory, miml, and Willi , 
 
 All my goods and ull my hours, 
 All I know, and all I feel," 
 
 and God, and the Church, have accepted you. See that 
 you do not go back from' your offer. Do not lie unto God 
 or His Church. Let the warning history of Ananias, and 
 Sapphira, startle you into constant watchfulness. You are 
 free agents: you have made this offer, not hurriedly, but 
 after due and prayerlul consideration. I, therefore, in tlie 
 name of God and His Church cha.rge you to be faithful. 
 In order to this " take heed to yourselves^ 
 ' Take care of your body. Good health is indispensable 
 to the successful discharg(j of your work ; and your health 
 is, to a large extent, under your own control. Eat simple 
 food — the plainer the better. Beware of being men 
 given to appetite. High living feeds. fleshly lusts, and 
 fleshly lusts war against^ the soul. Get as jnuch good 
 fresh, air as you can. Walk to your appointments as often 
 as possible. It w'ill give you a feeling of independence, 
 and afford you an opportunity for meditation, and face to 
 face communion with God, such as you can get in no other 
 
 -%■- 
 
♦r- 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 •I 
 
 way. Physical exercise is indiHpuiiHable for vii^orous 
 health. It is U) the nejjlect of this that we may trace 
 the nervousness, and dyspepsia, fioni which so many of us 
 Buffer. Do not tliink you are failing in your duty when 
 you take needed rehixation; labour lightened is not labour 
 lost, and our Divine Master still says to His overtaxed, 
 disciples, " Come aside and rest awhile." ^ 
 
 Take care of your minda. Give attention to reading, but 
 be sure and read the right things, he on your guard that 
 you do not let the newspaper absorb too much of your time. 
 It is valuable in its place, but out of its pjklce, it is mbst 
 ■^ injurious. It not only takes an undue proportion of your 
 Uine, but it creates the habit of desultory reading, a habit 
 most injurious to a theological stuclpfit. 
 
 Keep a corner of your libptry for experimental, and 
 devotional, reading. Kememberyou are a C/iris/tVm, as well 
 as a Minister, and that you must be fed, if you would feed 
 others successfully. If you can get but one book of the 
 kind, let it be Euther/ord's Letters, It is a book that has 
 done me more good than any other merely human book 
 tliat I have ever read; and on a Saturday night, when my 
 work is i^one, and the sermons for the Sabbath are ready, I 
 always feel that while rending those glorious Letters, I am 
 renevk'ing my strength, and laying in a preparation which 
 will gi'eatly bless me on the morrow. 
 
 Begin, and end, every day, with the Bible, and read it not 
 as a minister, but as a Christian. Kead, mark, learn, ami 
 inwardly digest the blessed words, and your profiting will 
 appear unto all. It will lift you above the fogs of doubt 
 and uncertainty, and give you a sure footing in you% 
 journey to the skies. Remember what Mr. Wesley says : 
 "After having sought for truth with some diligence for half 
 a century, I am at tins day hardly sure' of anything but 
 what I learn from the Bible." ' ' ^ ■ 
 
 Take care of your souls. Bemember that it is^nly 
 
 #' 
 
•s 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 spiritiial stmngtH that will enable you to accomplish yotir 
 work. That, if you ' lose this, you will become weak us 
 other men. ,. 
 
 Everything, there lore, ".|f hat injures your spirituality, 
 robs you of your poW^^f, Satan knows this, and acts 
 accordingly.'^ Against ytfu|<e will bring his most powerful 
 ten^ptations, and no etfortTwilJi be left unmade in order to 
 rob you, of your strength, ai;id ultimately to effect your 
 ruin. His cry will be ''aim not at great or small, but at 
 the king of Israel only." Be therefore on your guard; and 
 remember as^tl^e tierce assault is made, flmt no strange 
 thing has hapfii|lt»ed. unto you. 
 
 Your. position «1^ will bring with it special dangers. Out- 
 siders imagino that it is an easy thing for ministers to keep 
 up their spiritual life. Alas /or us, there is not a minister 
 but knows by sad experience that it -is not so. Thi^re is 
 a constant ilanger of our bocori^ing /orma/, and of our being 
 content with the form. It is so in reading the Scriptures, 
 It is so ijti public, and private, prayer; It is so in talking 
 to sinners; and it is so in preaching the Gospel, Unless, 
 therefore,' we are constantly on our guard, we shall be 
 ensnared by the evil. There is al90 a danger of our 
 becoming indolent. You will riow fee left pretty hiuch to 
 yourselves, and, if you please, you may dream tlirough thfe 
 round of your duties, with even a degree of approval by 
 the people. But beware. In the arbour of ease Christian 
 lost his roll. Iii God's sight idleness is sin. It is the 
 barren tree that is to be cut down, and the Unprofitable 
 servant that is to be cast into outer darjcness. 
 
 There is also the danger of bein^ puffed up with pride. 
 You are now, for a time, to be pttc^d in $. position of 
 influence, and the possession of power always brings with 
 it danger to its possessor. It is so with v(ealth, it is so 
 1»rith social position, and it is so with ottice in the world, 
 and the Church. Be therefore on your guard against this. 
 
s^_ 
 
 '% 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 •3 
 
 "You are not to ^ivo youiwilf iiirH, hiuI " loid it ovt;r (JtMru 
 litjiitugo," but reniMiiilwr " the soivautoi* tliu Loiil" uiUMt be 
 geutle, putiurit, uiul iiu'ijk. , ^ 
 
 Th«io is ulho thu «l«ii},'er of yielding to aeiiHnuUtt/. You 
 will bo bi(|(Ien to tbu feftst, and if you are not on your 
 guard, tlio table will bocOnio a snare to you. Appetitt'S 
 may bo «'ftHily creatod, and liabiis niay bo t'aMiiy formed, 
 and, Iwforo you. are aware of your dangtM*|^|^niay bo tied 
 and bound witli the chain ol' your sini^I knOw you 
 Hhuddor at the tbougbt that either of you should ever 
 become a glutton^ or a drnnkard ; and that you may bo 
 ready to say, " Is thy servant a dqj^, that ho should do this 
 thing?" but Others /mv« done it, lind hence it may be dfone- 
 again, and thertfory I utter to you] the warning cry, " Let 
 him that thinketh he Htandeth takcrHieed lest ho fall." 
 
 lliere are other dangers, to which I would fain point, 
 and against which I would wish to guard you, but the time 
 fails me, and ^ <}iust leave them. I will, however, utter 
 one word of wlarning a^^ainst the danger of your becoming 
 that despicable thing a trijler. You have 8|)ecial talents, 
 and gifts; you will see the humorous side of things, and be 
 able to describe them graphically, while the very reaction 
 from the sad, and depressing, duties of your profession will 
 incline you to rush in the opposite direction;, but bo en 
 iour guard. There is serious danger. The good story, and 
 /the hearty laugh, have their use, and I, who enjoy both as 
 much as any man, am not Ukejy to conden^n them, but see 
 to it that you lieep tliem within du0 bounds. It is a 
 slippery place, and you must note the danger. Stronger 
 men than you have fallen there, and instead of being 
 famous for their wisdom to w^in souls, they have been 
 famous for their "foolish talking and jesting;" and men 
 have never thought of speaking to them on spiritual sub- 
 jects, but have said that when they were in the pulpit, 
 t h ey ought never to come out; and when out of the pulpit. 
 
 V 
 
 ' :<. 
 
 '.;** 
 
f^r"' » 
 
 7 - 
 
 f^.m^Wf^ 
 
 •4 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. 
 
 they oukH^ nover to go In. Mny this novor be, Mid of 
 you I IJowiiro, oh howiir«, my dear young frifiulH, lo«t 
 from any vAWvm you Hhould have at huit to utter th« drnud 
 wail, "They inudo iiiu n keeper of' vineyurdH, hut my own 
 vineyanl I have not ki'pt." . • 
 
 In wnler to avoid thiH hr. much in your eloart that is 
 the Uttie ground on which your (hmtiny in decid(Ml. If 
 you are right there, you will be right every wjuire ; if wr6i»g 
 there, you will bo wrong everywhere. See to it thut by 
 rending, meditation, and prnyer, you keep up that com- 
 munion with God which will enable you to Hay with the 
 Haintly M'Cheyne, " I am better acquainted with Jesus 
 Christ than I nni with any man in the world." 
 
 Yonr (huij^er will be gmitly increased by tho fact tjmt 
 though you teach, and warn otherH, few, if any, vy ill ever 
 utter a >^arning word to you. >, Your danger may be seen, 
 and your fall protlainied, but no yarning cry will beraised, 
 and no helping hand stretched out to pluck you back from 
 ruin. Many a fallen minister li«^8 been maddened m he 
 has discovered that he was the last to see his peril, and 
 that 80:called friends had watched his fall without a' warn- 
 ing word, It is because of your spiritual solitude that I. 
 . to-day point out your dangers, and witli almost au agony <)f 
 sjyiUbestJf ch you to 
 
 *' Leave no ungiiBrded place, - " - 
 
 V ^ No w^akiieiM of the 8oul ; 
 
 • I: Take evttry virtue, every grace, 
 
 / Ami fortify the whole." 
 
 Trtke care of your character. Some men are foolish 
 enough to say, " They don't care what people think, or say, 
 about them." They ouffht to care — a good name- is better 
 than great riches, and a Bishop is to be blameless, and of 
 good repute. Whatever may be the character of your ffifis, 
 «;e that your life is right. Adorn the doctrine of God your 
 Saviour iu uU things. Christ has received many wounds 
 
 ^ 
 
"^•--T^:; 
 
 \4 7 
 
 ■■ 't. 
 
 FAITHFUL STFWARDSmP, '■\ 
 
 n 
 
 in thfl Imuihu of Hid friotidH, but nonu hnvu Htriicic doepor 
 tlinii tliOHti given by the IuukIh of a niiniHtor. r)epi)n4' 
 upon it our livoo aro Fur mora iutliieirtiul than our surniuns^*^ 
 and tliu dovil in fur niort; aiixiouH to injuru the ono than i\m ' 
 other. Sut), thiui, that you Ik) living e()iHtU!i^, man and r«>nil' 
 of uU niun. WhertiVfir yuu aro deficient, \m right h«tre. 
 Xivo NO that all whu know you may take notice of you» that 
 you have been with JeHUH. Studji carefully the directiotin 
 given you by your great Miuijter. Hjde Uiii words iti your 
 'hearts. ■ ' ' • ; * ■'■. '.^ "■ •■ '■' / ' . 
 
 Exited renuUn, Pro|)erly applied labour brings resuHtt 
 elselftlit're, and suivly tluiy Hh6uld here. The farmef plmiU' 
 luH tiuhi and expects the crop ; the fishernmn thro^ <Mn\ 
 his nut and expects a haul of Babes; and are //-«, tifoing a 
 (frtut- work, aiid with Odd for our A^-//^/*, to sow lOur seed 
 aiul Tiot expect a harvest; to cast our net by Divine 
 guidance, and never secure a fish ? Coinmon sehne as well 
 as Ghristihn faith rejects the idea. I know we shall not/ 
 be always reftping and never sowing; but we surelv are not 
 to be atwai/8 aowing, and mver reaptn0 Kathor let Us 
 rejoice in the certainty of the promise that " Xheylthat sow 
 in tears shall reap in joy.'* i ' 
 
 . "It is required of stetOarda^ that theif he fmiml /d\th/ul.'* 
 
 The world expects it. When a man undertakes aii otnco 
 he is always expected to discharge th0 duties eonuedtfid 
 therewith. It is so with the soldier. It is so with the 
 fireman, it is so with Iho policei'nan, and jt is so with the 
 CliTistian minister. And for this reason I confess I 
 like to 8,e& men separated to this work with a little diS'' 
 tinction in their dress. It , is a public avowal of the 
 high .office they sustain. It is sometimes ^ restraint to- 
 them, and it, frequently opens theiiHway foi; great use- 
 'fulness. ":.■■'■': .'■ ■-■^- <»■■■■' -■'^'-■"'" ' ■'-'■■ ■\^::' ■'-■'- '''-^•'-r' « 
 
 The world pften expects too ■ much from us, it is trae ;, ' 
 Imt the height of the standard which they erect is an 
 
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 36 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP, 
 
 honour both to ««, and to .our Master, and we must seek to 
 reach it as nearly as we can. 
 
 Tlu Church encpects it. She has given you many ad- 
 vantages. She gives you her property to use. Her chapels, 
 her mission rooms, and her schools. She gives you your 
 support It is her bread you eat, lier clothes you wear, her 
 houses you inhabit. *SA« is faithful to her engagements to„ 
 you, and she has a right to expect you to be faithful to 
 your engagements to her. 
 "^- Your fellmv ministers expect U. 'Th&y\\Q.VQ lo^oonv&di, 
 and you enter into their labours. With much toil, and 
 care, and sacrifice, they have gathered churches together, 
 and they expect you to guard, and teach, and feed, them.' 
 Others of , them are your contemporaries, and they labour on 
 i^ the various fields to which they are appointed, in the 
 sUre confidence that you Will do your part in that depart- 
 ment intrusted to your care. ■ 
 
 \AbQve:Ull, God requires it. We are but your fellow- 
 sejym\ts7ffe ia the great proprietor; ad Paul says in the 
 next verse, " He that judgeth me is the Lord." Remember 
 your obligation to Him. He awoke you from the sleep of 
 sin. He pardoned your iniquities. He renewed your 
 nature. He qnalified you for the ministry, and called you 
 into it. He opened your way, and has led you to this day. 
 And why has all this been done ? not just that you may 
 wear a blacks coat, and' be called Reverend, but that you 
 may labour in His vineyard, and do the work which He 
 appoints. If you neglect this. He will say as He did to 
 the unjust steward, « How is it that I hear this of thee? 
 OX thee (m whom I have done so much; of thee to whom 
 I had committed siich precious treasures; of thee whora I 
 had honoured so highly ? Dishonour and anguish shall be 
 thy portion for ever." 
 
 And now we separate. You know your office, ybu know \ 
 
r 
 
 FAITHFUL STE WARDSHIP. 
 
 37 
 
 your work. You know the expectations entertained respect- 
 ing you. May God be with you ! Your working day will 
 soon end, and the highest honour, or the deepest doom, will 
 be the result of your conduct. Our next great meeting 
 will be in tlie presence of the Master. The summons lor 
 our departure is even now sounding in our ears. Multi- 
 tudes are gone, and our turn may be next. The shadow 
 of. death rests upon me as I speak. At the last Hull 
 Conference, one of the truest men that ever lived stood in 
 this pulpit to give the 'feharge, Samuel Romilly Hall ; and I 
 was sitting in one of those pews listening to the vvords of 
 fire that stirred my soul as it was never stirred before. 
 Oh,^ how I longed for some penitent form to which I might 
 run, and where I might publicly ask for pardon for the 
 wasted, and guilty, past ! What l>avoc death has made 
 since then! That manly form has passed away, anU 
 Thomas Vasey, and Luke H. Wiseman, and H. W. Perks, 
 and Morley Punshon, arid Gervase Smith, and Samuel Coley, 
 and a host of others, whose presence andJeadership we 
 expected for years to coine, are gone ; aira when the next 
 Conference is held in this good old town, many of us shall 
 haye followed them, and the memory of our "vanished 
 forms'' will throw shadows on their hearts, as theirs do on 
 ours to-day. . 
 
 We shall meet again. But when we next meet the day 
 will he ended, and our probation over. Then tlie life 
 hisior^ of each of us will be contained in the one word of 
 "Faithful," oir •'Unfaithful.' The one word bright with 
 the light of heaven, and the other dark with t|)ie_^oon) of 
 helL There will be no escape, no appeal, nonbpportunity of 
 redress. We must meet our lives again, where light is 
 clear, and error impossible The influence of every act, and 
 word,, will then be revealed. We shall need no accuser. 
 ?*' Every one ot us must give an accou'ttt of himself to God." 
 
 Take heed, therefore, that you live a life that will bear 
 
 \ . 
 
 'V' 
 
zS 
 
 FAITHFUL STEWARDsklP. 
 
 review in the light of eternity, and in the presence of God. 
 To a large extent life is before you, and you may make it 
 an angel to bless, or a demon to haunt you, long as eternal 
 ages roll. With many of us most of life is gone, and all 
 that we can dp is penitently to kneel, and cry for pardon. 
 With yoM it is not so ; and I charge you in the presence of 
 Ood, and in the face of this congregation, to seize the 
 moments as they pass, and use them in the service of your 
 Master: ever ; 
 
 ^ '^ Bear in yotir fwthfiil mind* the end, 
 
 And keep the prize iu view." 
 
 " The great and terrible day of the Lord " will soon be 
 liere. If you forget your Master, or trifle with or neglect 
 your work, and so prove unlaithrul (which God forbid!). 
 His frown will be to you the beginning of hell. If, on the 
 other hand, you go forth in God's strength to do the work- 
 to which He has called you, counting no work too ^iflicult, 
 no saciifice too great, so that you may win souls* and build 
 up Christ's. Church, and thus be faithful (which God grant!). 
 His smile will be to you the beginning of heaven. 
 
 And now, farewell I Ma/ God be the strength of your 
 hearts, and your portion for ever I 
 
 *' that each in the day 
 Of His coming may say, 
 ' I liave fought my way through, 
 I have finished the work Thou didst give me to do t ' 
 
 - V-i 
 
 
 r that each ft-om his Lord 
 
 May receive the glad word, 
 ' Well and faithfully done I 
 Enter into My joy, and sit down on My throne I ' •» 
 
 « 
 
^'> 
 
 II. 
 
 •'A 
 
 OOD WlTff us, AS WITH OUR FATHERS.} 
 
 "The Lord our God he with us, as He was with our fathers ; let Hiiii not 
 leave lis, nor forsake us." — 1 Kings vlii. 57. . 
 
 MY text, aa you know, is frorn the ptayer that Solomon 
 offered at the consecration of the Temple— the most 
 sublime prayer that wa» ever offered from hum'an lips. It 
 was marked- by deep reverence and great humility, and it 
 everywhere recognises man's absolute dependence upon 
 God. My text may be regarded as a summary of this 
 prayer; and it has struck me as being specially applicable 
 to the peculiar circumstances under which we are met 
 to-night. "The Lord our God be with iis, as He was with 
 our fathers: let Him not leave us"^ nor forsake us." 
 
 You will see that there is, firsit, a grateful recognition 
 of God's- presence with th^ fathers. When Solomon 
 uttered these words he, of course, referred to the fath'-rs 
 of the Jewish nation. And who can doubt that God 
 was with them? An almost unbroken series of miracles 
 proclaimed His presence. I wish to apply the words to 
 our Methodist fathers, and may I not say that an 
 unbroken series of moral miracles demonstrated His 
 presence with them ? Let us look at them for a while, 
 that we may be humbled and stimulated, and so led to. 
 copy their example, that we may be prepjared to carry 
 ^ * The last sernion preached in Oldham Street Cliapel, ManciJttester. 
 
 29 
 
 \ 
 
 ,"* 
 
I 
 
 ■i 
 
 
 ■.>■ 
 
 3® GOD IVITIf US, AS WITH OUR FATHERS. 
 
 out- and complete the work which they began. One of 
 the great defects of the present generatfon. of Methodists 
 is their want of acquaintnnct' with their Methodist -fore- 
 fathers. There are, I fear, a large nujnb^r of our^yonnsj 
 
 ; Methodists growing up to whom the nanies/of^sa/, John 
 Nelson, and Mrs. Hester Ann Kogers, have no charm. This 
 
 ; ongiit not so to be; and if to-night, in the few words that 
 I shall speak, I can only persuade the young people \vho 
 are listening to me to go home and study" the glorious 
 biographies which we possess, I am quite sure that out- 
 meeting will not have been in vain. 
 
 Let us look tlien,' I repeat, for a moment or two at our 
 Methodist forelathers, and we shall see that "there were 
 giants in those days." Mine is a very rough sketch of 
 them, and will therefore be very imperfect Look first, 
 at. their /nB. Tliey were men "strong in J^ith, feiving 
 glory to God."- The late George Dawson said that what 
 the world wanted was a Church, for doub^ersl^ -T thank 
 God the Methodist Church has nev§f b.ee|^-aMei/to supply 
 that want. Ours is a Church for««1)Vlievers." For " be- 
 lievers suffering," it may be; for. "believers fighting," it 
 ina)*»be ; for "believers wofking,". it may be; but not for 
 believers doubting. The faith of our fathers was simple, 
 and strong. What God said, they, believed, because God „ 
 said it ; and they did not want any man, or any set of men, 
 to endorse the words 9f Jehovah. To them God was God, 
 and the devil was the devil, aiid sin was sin, and pardpn 
 was pardon, ' and bell, was hell; and h^aveft* was heaven. 
 Ilence when they Went out, they had a creed. amLtlfey, 
 could say, " We believe, and therefore speak." That ^as" 
 6ne secret of t|ieiir success, .When a preacher is in the 
 
 . pulpit,, there is: a sympathy between, the people and lim; . 
 which enables them at once to discover whether he believes^' 
 what he is saying ortto£. I havd liearcjof an eminen^an . 
 saying at^ th^icloae of Bis sermon : '^Those are my opinions 
 
 — _ '-»— : ■ ^ : _ , '. : •' . -. . . ^ ^ J 
 
 ■ ■ ■ , - . ■ ■ ■■ ■ ■ . , . • . 
 
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 GOD w/rirus, as mrif our fathers. 31 
 
 to-day, but 1 do not Sftylhey will be my opinions next 
 Sunday. I am ft seeker after truth, and who knows what 
 discoveries, I may make before we meet again ? " It was 
 not so with our fatl.iers. They went out in the assurance 
 that what they believed to-day, they would believe to-morrow, '-: 
 and right on to the end. Their faith was seen everywhere 
 —seen not only in tlieir sermons, but in their prayers. Oh, 
 biit they were mighty in prayer! When they knelt down 
 they spoke' to a living God, and they '* moved the Arm that 
 moves the world." Wheni they prayed, heaven was opened, 
 and showers of blessing came dowu on the children of men.' 
 And in their ordinary lives their faith was also seen. Did 
 God give therri work to do ? whoev0r attempted "to oppose 
 and hinder them, they went forward; thiay " laughed at 
 impossibilities, and cried, ' It shall be done.' " -There they 
 stand then, and nobody can look at them without seeing , 
 that one prominent feature was their strong and simple 
 laith. i 
 
 Then look at their lorn. It was not sentimentalism. It 
 was Divine love, kindled on the altar of their hearts by 
 the Holy Gho'st Their love to God, how ardent^hbw 
 burning, how quenchle$s! Their love to one another, 
 heard in their tones, seen in their language, and discovered 
 iri their Church arrangements.^ They may almost^ be said 
 to have introduced the habit of shaking hands amongst 
 the lower classes of this country. When they met they 
 shook hands. And they did not do it daintily. Th^r^' 
 heart was with their hand; and oftentimes the Methodist 
 grip had more meaning than the Fj-eemason's. If any of 
 ^ihem was in troublcy the rest sympathised with him, and if 
 any were in prosperity the rest rejoiced. How they loved 
 one another! I said "you saw it in their Church arrange- 
 ments. It is' seen in their class -meetings. When they met 
 they met to talk about their love to God, and their loye 
 to one another," They did not keep all their doubts, and 
 
 11 
 
 ■ 
 
 J ■ 
 
 1' 
 

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 / 
 
 3a GOD WXTH VSs AS WITH,QUR FATHERS. 
 
 ;•* 
 
 ■T,- 
 
 fears, as if they "were sacred UiingS, and ct^rty them to /th* 
 
 class'ineeting, till it became an ice-house in whith men's 
 
 teeth chattered, and their blood froze. No; .they went as 
 
 rtames of iii'e, cheiBiing, and inspiring, each other. And jn 
 
 the class-meeting , they provided what we are' told the 
 
 world WAnts— liberty, -leqnality, jind fraternity. If the 
 
 "Squire" came in, the class-leader called Iiim brother;" 
 
 and if the pauper came in, he was still a "brother." 
 
 ', Worldly distinctions were left outside: they were the 
 
 children of God by faith in Christ, ajid they met as such. 
 
 Tlrey had ^o much love that their meeting once a wtek' 
 
 •Syas not enough. They ins^titiited a new meeting— the 
 
 • * iiiOve-fdast— an institution which ho other Church has yet 
 
 > /Ventured to adopt, v And, oh, what miles they walked 
 
 i^-^^to those love-feasts! "^en, fifteen, twenty miles were as 
 
 ^ I'sr vWOthing. They sang ,all the'way there, and they sang 
 
 -^louder still as they went back ; and when they afterwards 
 
 met they said, "'Did not our hearts burn within us?' 
 
 , What a glorious time we had !" • 
 
 ,, Then there was'their Iwe to the Bible. It was so inarked 
 that they were called " Bible bigots " and " I^ible iiioths." 
 They hid God's Word in their hearts. They were mighty 
 in thfe Scriptures. It wa,8 spirit and life to them. Hence, 
 with hearts full of love to God and man, and to God's* 
 Word, they went to the work to wiiich tliey were called. 
 When I hear ifery class of men spoken of as "being like 
 the-first Methodists," I^always ask> Are they diligent Bible 
 students? If not, they cannot 6e like them, lor they were 
 men of one Bookl* - ' 
 
 Then look at then holiness. Their holiness was not a 
 creed simply, but a life. A blessed experience. They 
 avoided that which was, evil, and they cleaved to that 
 which was good. They. were called the "holy club ; " and 
 t»:hen you. asked them what their ^work was, the ans^'er 
 *wa6 always ready : ."Our work is not to build chttrphes, or 
 
 1 
 
 #' 
 
 
GOD WITH US^ AS WITH OUR FATHERS. 33 
 
 1 
 
 |fc- 
 
 
 chapels, do this, or that, "wonderful thing, but to spread 
 Scriptural holiness through the land.". There was no 
 sanction , for sin in the Methodist clasfs-room, and there 
 was never any peace witli the devil proclaimed from a 
 Methodist pulpit. Wherever you met with a Methodist, 
 you met with one who hated sin ahnpst as much as he . 
 Joved the Saviour. v v ,' , 
 
 y Arid then, look at their zeod. Their love, I said jtist 
 now,, was not seiitimentalism. "^ Some people's love is 
 
 f wonderfully > lackadaisical: it all goes off in song. Our 
 Methodist fathers were not like that Tl«5ir love tnrned 
 iniid flame. It took hold of them, it permeated th^m, it 
 lifted them up, it donsti^ained them. Was there work 
 to do, t^ey ^id it cheerfully. Was there a journey to 
 take, tkiy joyously took it. ' Wa^ there anything which , 
 would benefit men, they were glad to bestow it. Was 
 there anything in which they could glorify God, they 
 rejoiced in' the opportunity. ? As they went about, * you 
 
 ''could hear them sing, aftd when they dared not sing, 
 you might hoar thenj humming to themselves, " A charge 
 to keep I have, a' God to 'glorify," and they acted a*ccord-» 
 ingly. Thpy worked so h^rd, that those who looked 
 
 ^ on, and did not understand them, called them °" work- 
 ipongers," and said they expected to win heaven by their 
 
 ^ works.-.-^,. , ' . , ^-^ 
 
 The sketch would not be completiB if I were to bmit their 
 JtappiTiess^ Whenever you met with one of our fathers you 
 met w^h a. man .who was a'livingrproof that religion does 
 not make people melancholy. If I might divide tlie army 
 of the livfng God into Jegions, I should say the'lMethodist 
 legion wask the singing legion. Charles Wesley wrote, it 
 is said, some six thousand hymns, and John Wesley, moving 
 
 ;^from one end of the land, to the other, with his quicl}:, 7 
 delicate ear,isat»ght a/beautifql tune wherevc^r he heard it/ 
 a]3id either comp(^ed a hymn for it himself, or asked his 
 
 
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 54 GOD WITH US, AS WITH OUR FATHEK$^^ 
 
 I ' ' ■ '- ' " «' C' V 
 
 brother Clmrles to do it; and when some one said/^Thia 
 is a song tune/' he said,"! don't care about tliaK ^^hy 
 should the devil have all the best tunes?" And so when, 
 lie had finished his sermon in a villrfgo, he n^et the Society, 
 , taught them the tune, and thpy set their neighbours sing- 
 ing, and thus they seemed to " roll the rapturous hdsanna 
 ; round." Their happipess ! They had gone to the right 
 ; source, they went tp the, Bible; and some* of us would U 
 a great deal happier if we were to follow thei^p^xample. 
 The Bible is the very 'fountain of joy for our poor, 
 perishing world. If you ask, Why read the. Bible ? I 
 commend to you St. John's* answer — and I have sometimes 
 wished it could be printed in letters, of gold on every 
 Bible in the world : "These things write we unto you, that 
 your joy may be full." When our fathers came to God's 
 house they spent a good deal of time in singing; and they, 
 .like David, were not afraid of "repeats." Classical music 
 does not suit a warm heart. There is not room in it 
 You are through it, and out of it, before you are well in 
 it: and I say here, not without deliberation, that 1 think - 
 one of the greatest benefits that sortie ctf you good folks 
 ■who understand music can confer on the Methodist Church 
 just now is to save .the old Methodist tunes, for as the 
 revival which God is givih^'us spreads through {he Con- 
 nexion we shall want them again. I kno^ that some of 
 .our friends sneer at the old style, but the music was heard 
 in heaven, and brpught priceless blessings to earth. How 
 they sang! What a volume of sound went up from a 
 Methodist chapel !' And the places they built were suited, 
 for it. When they erected, places- of worship' they did 
 " not erect splendid tombs. < They biiilt. bright and happy 
 homes, and having built them, they filled them; and' 
 When they were there you hardly ever knew when they * 
 would get out. When at last they did. leave, you could hear 
 them in many a country lane , and acroitfinany a w ild 
 
 rn 
 
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 GOD W/TJI as, AS WITH OUR FA THERS 35 
 
 rn^f, singiiig, soinotiines m twos an(J[ threos, and somutimes 
 alone — ' 
 
 ' A," My flwl, I am Thine, what a Doinfiirt divine, 
 V. Wliat a pleating to know that my Joans ia mine « • 
 ' \vln the heavenly Lamb thrice happy I am, 
 
 A^nd my heart it doth danou at the sound of Hit nama." 
 
 These are otjr Methodist " fathers "—men wonderfully like 
 ^- the first CVnistians. My sketch is rough and rapid, but- 
 I belieVe it \is true to life; and looking at their faith, 
 at their love, At their zeal, at their holine$s, and at their 
 happiness, do you wonder that God used them for His: 
 ^lory ? . They were few, they were poor, many of them un- 
 leariied, and they had against them all the power of men and 
 devils; but God's strength was made pertlect in their weak- 
 ° ne^, and they have called into existence, as the result of 
 their glorious labours, the largest Protestant Church in the 
 world. 
 
 And who can doubt that God "^as with our fathers"? 
 " liistefTto their testimony, read their books, ^nd always, 
 and ^.everywhere, you meet .with the declaration, ""The 
 best of all is, God is with us." Yes, He was with'theni 
 life, strengthening, guiding, comforting, and deliver- 
 And He was with Uiem in death, bearing theni 
 up, and making them more than conquerors. '' Ah 1 " said 
 an old doctor to Adam Clarke on meeting hifu down this 
 very road, when the cholera was raging in the neighbour- 
 bpod, and he had seen many- of the Methodists passing >nto 
 eternity, " Adam, thy people die well." Glory be to God, 
 they did die well! and the secret was that God was with 
 tiieni. With them in their labours when they toiled, and 
 with them in their sufferings and weakness w,hen. they died, 
 and after death He took thiBm to he withHrni" in heavenfor 
 ever. Is not our gathering here to-night a proof that God wa» 
 with them? Go back, as many of tis Jjave been doing to-day, ' 
 ■ one hundred a n4 fifty year s . — Then there waa-no Methodi s m 
 
 A-.tn 
 ing them. 
 
 
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 „.A _.:,:^ 
 
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 S6 GOD WITH US, AS WITH OUR FAfllEtiS 
 
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 existence. To-duy there are thirty thuiisiiiiid ininisters, 
 
 thousand local preachers, five million Qjliurch members, 
 
 and twenty-five million adherents I Qo back one hundred 
 
 and forty years, and you will find no l(4«thodi8m in 
 
 Lancashire ; but John Nelson, the Yorkshire stonemason, is 
 
 announced to preach at the Market-Cross ; I don't know 
 
 where that is ; some of you do, I dare say. He went there 
 
 single-handed and preached, and that was the unfurling 
 
 of the Methodist banner in Lancashire, and Manchester 
 
 especially. A surging crowd of two thousand gather 
 
 around him, jeering, laughing, mockinL', and some pelting 
 
 him with stones. "By and by," her^says, "one of them 
 
 struck me in the forehead and cut my head open,^nd^ the 
 
 people listened the more readily as they saw the blood 
 
 streaming down my face." , That is the stuff ypur fathers 
 
 were made of. He rejoiced as he stood there with the 
 
 blood mnning down his face, to tell them of the blood of 
 
 Christ that cleansed from all sin. Three years passed 
 
 away, and he would be. tempted to say he had spent his 
 
 strength for nought, and laboured in vain. But God had 
 
 said, "My word shall not return unto Me void," The 
 
 people have talked apd thought al)out the sermorlt andi 
 
 there comes a letter from John Benuet to Mr. John Wesley 
 
 telling hin^ that " some young men who had heard Nelson 
 
 y preach had been meeting together, anxious about their 
 
 souls; and had formed a Society^ taken a little room, and 
 
 -jurritten to Charles to ask him to ask his brother to own 
 
 them as brethren;" One would like to have the names of 
 
 Ihose yoiing men; That is the beginning of Methodisn* 
 
 in, Manchelter. Think of it. Those few poor young men 
 
 crowded in a little room in which a widow lives, and which 
 
 couuiin? a loom, a bed, a table, and a chair ! And what 
 
 do you see in Lancashire to-day ? Eighty Circuits, two 
 
 hundred and fifty ministers, eight hundred chapek, sixty 
 
 thousand members, and one hundred and titty thousanct 
 
. r* '■■* -rjt^ ., 
 
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 GOO WITH Ua, AS WITH OUH FATHERS, 37 
 
 Sunday scholars ! Well might we sing as we have doM 
 to-night— 
 
 *"»-\Vhi'ii' He Hrtit the w(»rk bt-guli, 
 Stnitll and feoble WM Hi* lUy ; 
 K<iw the word doth Hwiftly run, 
 Now It wins iU widrning v«y ; ' 
 
 More and mors it spread aud growi, 
 Ever mighty to (ifevoil, 
 
 -— Sin's stronKhwldu St now oVrthrowi, 
 
 *- Shakos tim trembling gates of hull. 
 
 We may therefore *well say, " Thou wa«t witli our fathers." 
 In the second place, there is the earnest petUion offered 
 "ihat God may be vith th^ children, as 'He was with the 
 fathers : "The Lord our God bo with us, as Ho was with 
 our fathers." We have seen how He Wfvs with the fathers, 
 and how He made the " little one a thousand, and tlve 
 small one a great nation ; " juiA is there one of us who can 
 heip lifting up his heart, ^nd pvdying that God may be 
 M^ith us, as He was with them ? Take care— let me speak 
 a .'word of warning, 1 must do it— take care that you 
 rest on no arm but that a^the Almighty. We have many 
 advanta<»es. We have tlie advantage of numbers ; we have 
 ^e advantage of wjealth ; we have the advantage of learn- 
 ing f^e have the advantage of organization , we have the 
 advantages of the ^-mpathy of othet Churches ; we have the 
 advantage of ^a;v»ig the co-operation of influences, some' 
 secular and some social, that marvellously help ua in out 
 work. ' We have $11 that; but there is a voice from 
 heaven sapng to us to-iight, " Without Me ye can do 
 nothing," N9; . increase your wealth, learning, influence, 
 and perfect your organization; but without the Spirit of^ 
 God no heart will ever be broken^ and no soul will ever bo 
 aaved. Oh, lift up your hearts and say» " Lord be with ua, 
 as Thou wast with bur fathers i" 
 
 That is what we^nt, brethren. We have agreat^ork 
 to dOt MetUodiBj / ihas not done its v i fork. Our work; I 
 
 ■ 
 
 ■- %, 
 
 A, : 
 
38 GOD WITH US. AS WITH OUR FATHERS. \ 
 
 \. ■■' ... ■ • 
 
 My, if to "spread Scriptural holiness through tho land." 
 We Itave not dono that yet. We hiivo not done it in the 
 big towuH, and in tho cities ; wc huv« not ovon done it \t\ 
 the viUiigtm. There in therefore a great work fur us to do. 
 The world needs Methodism to day as much as ever it did. 
 God forbid that I shouhl sjHiak one word that would pain 
 
 , Jhe mind of noy member of another Church, but I cannot^ 
 look out on some of the other Churches without deep 
 anxiety and fear. I look in one direction, apd see Popery 
 throwing its withering blight upon the fairest and the best. 
 I look in another direction, and t see Hociniamsni sapping 
 the very life and vigour of the Church. And when 1 see 
 other Churches divided and distracted, and remember that 
 the Church is the only organization that God has called 
 into existence in order that souls niuy be won for Christ 
 and heaven, I see that there is need of Methodism, and 
 that there is a great work for her to do. 
 
 Tlmn what is our duty ? Certainly to be prepared for 
 the work. And how better can wo be prepared for the* 
 Work than by catching the spirit, and imitating the example,/ 
 «f our fathers ? We boast that we are Methodista - Take 
 care that mien see the family likeness. It is said oM 
 Alexander the Great that he had in his army a man who! 
 
 ^as reported to him a? being a coward, and whose nam^ 
 Was Alexander. The Emperor went to him one day, an«f 
 said, "Is thy name Alexander?" The man said it was; 
 whereupon the Emperor said, " Then thou must either 
 change thy name, or change thy conduct." And so I 
 would whisper to some, change your name, or change your 
 conduct. I ask again— Is there a lumily likeness in you ? 
 Are you remarkable for your simple, strong faith? The 
 fiihers are gone, but the promises remain, can we grasp | 
 them as our fathers did ? When God speaks the word, ^ 
 can we " lauuh at impossibilities, and cry it shall be^ ^ 
 
 lU^ 
 
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 done"? Put the question to vourst ^e a — Have I the 
 
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 Goh WITH l/S, AS IVJTH OUR ^'ATHER^. ,39 
 
 family likencM 7 Are you remafkaWe foJ your lovo ? Ifoi 
 tltfi' lovo-fflnst a chartn for you fur more thun the Imll-roorn, . 
 or tlio theatru ? Dd you love one another with pure heart* 
 fervently? Do you lovo your lUhle ? Do you hide it iii , 
 your heart? Are you "mighty in the Scriptures"? Are 
 the promises your richest treasure?' Are the precepts 
 your constant guide ? Is there the family likeness ? . And . ° 
 your zeal. Are you remarkable for this? Are you a 
 volunteer or a pressed man ? Have you been to your 
 superintendent and said, " Do you want a Sunday-school 
 tcaxjher? — hero am I ; do you want a Tract-distributor ?— 
 here am I ; do you want a worker in the Band of Hope t 
 he»e am I." Is the iseal of the lord's house eating you 
 upt Do you speak to your friends about the Saviour, 
 
 ■••telling to all around what a dear Saviour you have - 
 found " ? Are you remarkable for your holiness ? Do you 
 •'adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all thing-^"? 
 Are you remarkable for your happiness ? Does your bright 
 face and gWl heart recommend religion to those around 
 you? Do men "take knowledge of you, that you have 
 
 * been with Jesus" ? If so, you have a right to expect that 
 the Lord will be with you, as He was with your fathers. 
 God delights to be with men. He t#ls us His " delights 
 are with tBe sons of men." No 1 God will not leave us 
 unless we force Him away. How can we do that? you 
 
 ■': say. You can do it in many ways. You can do it by 
 disloyalty. Let no one. persuade you to do dishonour to 
 your Saviour, to be di8lo}'al to your God. You can drive 
 Him away by your worldliness. Theri is our special diEingiHV.. 
 Wealth increases, and then temptations come. We want to 
 copy the example of those about us. Swnebody else has a 
 bigger house, and we must have larger dines too. Spme- 
 body else has started a carriage and pair ; we also must do 
 the same. And the result is that in many cases^t takes all 
 
 ■4: 
 
 M 
 
 * *;. f 
 
 our wealth to support our own extravagance, and we have 
 
 * 
 
40 GOD WITH US, AS WITH OUR FATHERS. 
 
 very little left for the Church, or the world ' around. Oh/ 
 beware of woildlinessl " If any man love the world, the 
 love of the Father is not in him/' 
 
 Avoid the ball-room, avoid the theatre, avoid the public- 
 house. Pander not to self and sense, but cling to Christ, 
 and love your Bible. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not 
 into temptation." We have to win the world for Chrisfc 
 Let us go to our knees, and cry to God that He may qualify 
 us for the work.- God has taught ua again and again that 
 we can do no great work without His presence. When 
 , Abraham was going out 'to an unknown country, God 
 promised to be with him: When Moses was going to lead 
 the children of Israel across the wilderness he said, "If 
 Thy presence go not Ayith us, carry us not up hence." I 
 would sooner not go than go without Thee. But God 
 assured him of His presence, and he went on. So when 
 Christ was sending out His apostles to convert the world, 
 what was, His own blessed word? "Ix)! I am with you 
 alway, even unto the end of, the world." I am with you ; 
 My presence shall be your strength, and guide, and 
 glory. If that is so, my brethren, when we go out into 
 the world we need not fear men nor devils. Throujih God 
 we shall do valiantly. Oh, I beseech you let us cry as otie 
 man, "Lord be with us, as Thou wast with pur lathers: 
 kave us not, nor forsake us " ! 
 
 And now, before we part, I want to say a word or two 
 to any who are here and are hot saved. - 
 
 Mine is the last appeal that you will ever hear from this 
 pulpit. Many a time in this place you have heard the 
 word of warning. Many a time you have been " almost 
 perauaded " to become Christians, but you have delayed. I 
 come to-night and I ask thee, my brother, my sister, for the 
 last time from this pulpit, to come to Christ He is here 
 to-night Here mighty to save. Oh, let the last service 
 be tlie time of decision ! Why not? You have put it off 
 
 
 yjj^ 
 
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 « 
 
 ■■"/ ■ 
 
 GOD WITH us, AS WITH OUR FATHERS. ^\ 
 
 and off. Don't ptit it off any longer ; but now as I speak 
 let the cry go up to heaven, " I will arise and go to my 
 Father." He is waiting to receive thee. Oh, why should 
 not heal^en be made glad to-night by the conversion of 
 souls to Christ? Why not ? All things are now ready, 
 and God is waiting to be gracious. 
 
 , . ." Coime, all tho world ; come, sihner, thou I 
 A.11 thiDgs in Christ are ready now." 
 
 Oh, come this last evening ! Come before I close the book, 
 Come before my voice is silent. Come to Christ to-night, 
 and thou shalt obtain eternal life. Is there a wanderer 
 here ? Oh, come back 1 You are perhaps thinking of the 
 "peaceful hours" you once "enjoyed" in this sanctuary, 
 but now you have "^n aching void, the world can never 
 fill," Come back. I bring a message to tliee. , That 
 message is, "Return unto Me, and I will return unto you." 
 Come back, and let the God of your fathers be your God 
 for ever and ever. Christian friends, my brethren and 
 sisters in Christ, we go from this place to-night never to 
 come back again. I pray you ., . 
 
 ^ " Bear in your faithful iniuds the end, 
 
 . And keep the prize in view." 
 
 We shall not meet again until the trumpet ahall sound and 
 the dead shall be raised. Oh, let us be faithful ! 
 
 It is a grand name that we bear. Keep it so that .it 
 shall be grander still when you part with it. Let it be a 
 brighter name when you leave it to your children than 
 when you reoeiVjed it from .your father. liCt us to-night, in 
 the presence of /eiBich other, and, it may be, in that of our 
 sainted founder atid fathers, pledge ourselves; let others 
 do as thpy will, we will try to be simple Methodists-r^ 
 men of ^faith, men of zeal, men of love, men of holiness 
 and happiness, living near heaven, having power with 
 God, and Mnging heaven down to men. Shall it be so ? 
 
 4 
 
 \ 
 
""PS""' 
 
 42 GOD WITH US, AS WITH OUR FATHERS. 
 
 Then will this night he a hiessed night. We shall go 
 away " strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." 
 And now I leave my message: "The Spirit and the bride 
 say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Opme. And 
 let ' him that is athirat come. And whosoever will^ 
 let him take the water of life freely." May "the 
 Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers ; 
 let Him not leave us nor forsake us/' for Christ's sake. 
 Amen.- -. :-■■'<■-• 
 
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 AN OLD PROMISE FOR THE NEW YEAR? 
 
 " I will bless thee ; . . . and thou shalt be a blessing." — Qen. xiL 2. ' ^ 
 
 THE" joy with which we enter upon a New Year i» 
 • always tempered with a feeling of anxiety. Life is 
 felt to be 'fleeting and uncertain, and man to be but as- 
 {t bubble floating on the solehon stream of time. Our com- 
 panions disappear from our side, jEind we are painfully 
 reminded that "we are strangers ... and sojourners," like- 
 " all our fathers ; " and that " our days on the earth are as 
 a shadow, and there is none abiding." The good wishes, • 
 that greet us as we step out into the. year, have a minor 
 tone, and seem to be but the echoes of " voices gone." We 
 look backward with a sigh, and onward with a tremor. We- 
 feel our qwn helplessness, aivd that to lean on those around 
 us, is to build on the shifting sand. We long for something 
 permanent and abiding. We crave " some solid ground to- 
 rest upon." The " heart crieth out for God, even for the 
 living God." He hears our cry ;' and, lifting upon us the 
 light of His countenance, lovingly whispers : "I will bless 
 thee ; and thou shalt be a blessing.' May w^ have ears, to 
 hear, and hearts, to receive, this twofold promise ; and, 
 making it our watehword, go out into the year with a bright 
 lace, and a firm step ! ¥ 
 
 Notice, firs^, what God "promises to do to us: "I will 
 ■ bless ^thee.",:V', ,■':■ •■■,.:. ■ 
 
 » A New Year's Sermon for 1884. 
 
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 A^ ,AN 0£I} fHO^E J^H TlfM NEW YEAn. 
 
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 ' iM U8 look aJQlbhese glt>rious words. .They jforni one of 
 tbe brightest constellations in the heaven ot promise, and 
 «ach wo,r4 is a star of t:he first iiiagnitude. °. - .- ' 
 
 Spe hovf plain the promise is ! All that is Vital ili Ood'a 
 W^rd w ^14in. There are p^rts of that} "Word dark with 
 excessive light : regions that are like the primeval forest, 
 where there is no footprint, and into w.hich man cannot 
 penetratev Many have foolishly made the attempt, for 
 "vain man would be wise ; "13114. they have comeback with 
 bleeding feet, «and a weaiy ,h§art, having learnt by -sad 
 
 , ©xperienpe that^n God's Word, as Well' as elsewhere, " tres- 
 passenai will^be' prosecuted." God « understands us better 
 
 -thaif we understand ourselves, and He leads us "'jn a 'plain 
 path, because^of our eliemies." Xh^ path of duty; and the' ' 
 p^tii of promise, arrf both plain. We are «?n ahMmportant 
 jpuriiey, and our time is limited;. let us therefore be on our 
 guard against the temptation to wander ; and leav^ the . 
 mysteries, till we have more time, and^ cleai^el* lights Dr* 
 Watts, who w&s once a trespasser, and who reaped the, 
 trespasser's punishment, jsaid, when his feet again trod the 
 nariow path : " Oh, how I thank God for the . simple. 
 
 'promises]" Soviet us say as we ,turn to bur text. ' ^tt 
 is milk for babes. Theie is only one word of tw^ syllables/ 
 in it. Wq may give it as a first re?,ding-less6n. to the 
 little chil^, and yet it has in it a\ meaning at whi'ch tli||l 
 highest archangel will wonder. It is well that -it should be 
 so; for the promises, like the stars, ar^ made for night. 
 When the sun is shining, the stars are not visible, but ^dien/ 
 the^sun disappears, the stars steal out i^ their silvery 
 beauty. So it is^rith the prpmlses : in the. sunshine of- 
 prosperity, their beauty is invisible, but let the night of 
 advei-sity throw its dark shadow round us, and a -thousand 
 promises will appear, to throw; light upon our path, and com- 
 fort into our hearts. The fuu^auty of a promise is nevet 
 aeen till "it has been read through tears. Look up, then» 
 
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 AN OLD PROmSE-FOH THE NE^W YEAR. 45 
 
 poor sulTerer !• The night may be l«ng and -dark, but the . 
 9tai8 ^re out : look at them and rejoice ; for there, in 
 letters of living lijglit, you^ay read the .promise: "I will 
 bless thee."' ' • ' -V' * ; : • . ' 
 
 See how personal the prott^ise is : " J will bless thee:** 
 personal on God's slide, and personal' on thine. Do I hetir* 
 you say, ** But this Is my" di^culty.. this promise was 
 Blade to Abraham';' what right ^Ve r to claini it as made 
 -to mel I have no mote; right to other f)eople*8 promises 
 than to otheir peoples money.'- This^ is ^tJertaiuIv true ; and 
 the enemy ^f our souls takfes care that we do riot forget it. 
 Often when;tjieChristianr claims some, muchine^ded prdmisef 
 be says : " That promise was made to Abraha.m, or David^ 
 ^01* Paul,, and not to you ; you have no right to plead it.'*' 
 fTo. escape . from this '^fitralysing suggestion, yicm must' 
 remember your characiter. You !ar^ a believer in , Christ. I 
 Idoi-iiot'sa^ feUat your taith.^i?^ strong, it may l)e " weaker 
 
 ■. thatt the nbrulsed reed ;" .but you are a believer; and/our 
 
 '(<i^^elatioiiship to Christ does not depend on the strength of Our 
 vfaith, but upon its .existence. ' A' babe is as truly a son asj^lC 
 
 - 'young ^man, " ■ • : ■; ■ ■■'.' V *•; ■ . r-x '■■ "'*'• '" '•'''■ ' ■ ■ ".. * '■'"'^ 
 ^ 'Ljpt me askiiyou to lodcat the tlrird chapter of the Epistle > 
 tJthe Galatians. In the :aixteenthj verse' it is said : "Now 
 
 , to Abraham and his seed, jvere the t)romises made. He 
 saitli npt, Arid to .seeds^ as of^inany ;' but as of one; And to 
 
 : thy seed, whiph is Qhr{st."Vln the fourteenth verse we are 
 
 ' |old that Christ redeemed us, " that .the blessiiig of Abraham 
 
 might come on t|ie Gentiles ; *' and in the twenty-ninth • 
 
 *v^rse it is said^ "And-jf ye be^hvist's, then are ye Abra- 
 
 hafti's seed, and . heirs according to . the promise.", . "So 
 
 then," says the apostle, Jn the ninth verse, " thejr which b©/ 
 
 'of iaith arei)lessed with' faithful Abraham,'' We see, thei 
 
 . ' that ^he promises w6re not the private property of those/to 
 \fhom they were spoken— they .were " to them, and to their 
 
 — chi l dren, and to all th a t were a f a r q fi f, ev e n > .to as m a ny ag 
 
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 46 yiN OLD PROMISE FOR THE NEW .YEAR. 
 
 the loM our God shall call." Thoy/thre the true Church's 
 -propeiLy-i^property from which she can never be disen- 
 •cfo'wed^ Hence the JVeu;-Testau]cnt saints never hesitated to 
 claim pnd apply 0/f]^>Te$ta,^uei}t promises. See, for example, ' 
 tJ»e' DS^jriter / of; the Epiatjeto the Hebrews, yiThen encou- 
 inging the OJ^ri^tians . to bear up under the trials t6 which 
 they. were exposed, be'^ysi ",F6r He hlith said, I will never 
 leav^ thee, nor forsake thee \ *' and though this promise was 
 made- to Joshua nearly' twp thousand years before, yet \\t 
 unhesitatingly applies .it to' them, and ui^es them to claim 
 it, for he goes on to aay, ** So that we may boldly say, The 
 lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do 
 unto, me." , ' , 
 
 It is therefore cjleaHhat a|I the promises in the Bible are 
 **• Ye^ and Amipn in Christ Jesus | " and that if we take hold 
 of Christ w;ith one hand, we may take hold of any promfse 
 ^i]\ the Bible with the other. |^0 rebel has a right to thesoii 
 precious treasures. He is a, child of wrath, and the 
 thteat^nings alone ^re his portion, and will: be as long as he 
 remains in rebellion ; but, believer, thou art a;;** child of God 
 by ffiith in Christ Jesus," and as sui^h thou art come li^&L 
 «8tate the value of which is boundless, 'Thou avt " Keirot 
 the promises." Live lip to thy dignity. Claim thy right. 
 Forget ^for a moiiDent that God has another child on eartti. 
 Hear Him speaking, find as He stlys, *' I' will bless thee," 
 gather into thy heart the fulness of the meaning, and say 
 vith Paul, " He loved w<?, and gave Himself for »i«." 
 
 " JTah, Jehovait, id m^ Lord, 
 Ever mcruiful and just ; 
 I will lean upon His Word, 
 I will on Hifl promise trust., 
 
 Strong I am, for He is strong/ 
 Just in righteousness Divine 
 He is my triumphal song; 
 — — All Hft haw, aiflil ia, is mwie." 
 
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 AJV OLD PROMISE I^OR THE i^EW^fEAR. 47 
 
 See how podlive' the promise isV " I vnll bless thee." 
 When God speaks He speaks like a God. With Him 
 "there is no Variableness, neither shadow of turning." He 
 is "the same jjesterday, and to- da}^ and for ever." He - 
 aays : "ileaven and earth- shall pass rfWay.'but My words 
 shall not pass away." " They that trust in the Lord shall 
 be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ' 
 
 ever. 
 
 •' Thy proiuiBes, how flrrti they be, , ' 
 How firm our hope and comfort stands! ' 
 
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 ;^ere is solid ground to rest upon. There may be jchan^, 
 and d^ay everywhere else, but here is an arm that never 
 fails, and a -heart that never changes: and He, knowing 
 thy disappointments and heart-sickness, says this morning : 
 " I will bless thtfBf Darkness .may .l)e about thee, and 
 thorns and briers may beset thy path, and thy cup be 
 bitter. Thou mayest even now be saying: "Show me 
 wherefore Thou contendeSt with me." Look up I He haa- 
 not forgQttento be gracious— s ff^ 
 
 '■ ' •< "Behind, a frowning Providence * ' 
 
 ^ He hides a smiling face." • •■ * ^ 
 
 He will make ill thin^ .work together for thy good. Hp 
 . will transmute fciir&fes ipto . blessings. He loves thee wttU 
 everlasting love, therefore gra*6p in faith Hjs glorious 
 promise: •* I will bless thee." 
 
 Sefe liow precious the promise i« I precipus for each of the 
 relasqns I have nam^d ; but having a special preciousness in 
 itself: The other wprds are but stef s to the throned Let 
 us* now look at the throne itself. The lilfe, the soul of tlve 
 promise, is in the word " bless." The other words dorivo 
 all their preciousness from this. If this word had not been 
 here, the other wOjds might have hut iutensitied our terror ; 
 but here it is in its fulness of glory; 'and I want you to 
 walk* in the light thereof. - / > ^ 
 
 ** I will blm th ee ." What do e s '« bless '^' mean "i I cannot ' 
 
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 48 AA^ OLD PROMISE FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 tell* all its meaning, for it hos "A vtUit, Unfathomable aea** 
 of meaning, 1' Where ,all my thoughts ^re drowned ;"- but 
 if we cannot know all the mtanin^; let us try to know" 
 what we %an. What did it taeaii to Abraham? Ht* 
 undei^tood it to mean that God would be hi$ God ; that 
 He would 'guide, protect and prosper| Him, and afterwards 
 receive him to Hia home above ; for we are told tiiat " hd 
 looked for a city," as well as for all earthly blessings. 
 And we know tha,t ^^b€ae_expectnti()ns were more than 
 realized. This is what the word means to us; and a»' 
 such it is our privilege to receive it to-day. It means all 
 it seems to mean-— yes, and infinitely more; for man's 
 words cannot contain God's meaning. Hence," trembling, 
 timid Christian, I point thee to the promise, and cryT 
 " Afl, all you need is there 1" The more you look at it, 
 the more you will priie it. Like Himself, it is perfect 
 altogethesi". To change a word would be madness. \ It 
 quivers with tenderness, it ii? infinite in poi^r. • To receive 
 -it is to rise above the world, and see the invisible. ^If 
 this blessed morning we could^ on the wings of faitl^ and ~ 
 love, enter into the holy place, and passing through the A' ; 
 ranks of shining worshippers hear the Diving voice saying: 
 ♦'I will bless thee," all fear would die, and' henceforth we 
 should, rejoice with a " jjoy unspeakable and full of glory." " ^ 
 That Voice is saying it now; why should not our joy le 
 the same ? vLet therefore-our hearts sing— 
 
 " Here then I doubt no more, • 
 
 But in His pleasure rest, ' 
 
 , i » "Wh,9se wisdoin, love, and truth and power, 
 
 Engage to make me blest. . 
 
 , ^ To accomplish His design • . - ■ 
 
 'The creatures all agree ; 
 p^ ~ And all the attributes DivincC "f ^ ^ " J' 
 
 Are now at work for me. '• 
 
 Kotice, i«cowrf?y, what God promises to make ns to " 
 
 others: "I will make thee a blessing." . He takes us into s^ 
 
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 ;, ; ; AN OLD PROMISE FOR THE: NEW YEAR. 49 
 
 closest feHowahip, and makes us co-workett with Himself. 
 Christianity gives the death-blow to selfishness ; no selfish 
 \ i"^ T"" ^ « Christian, and no, Christian can bo selfisli. 
 Self dies as grace increases, till at last the " man in Christ 
 Jesus." Ae who' is " perfect 'in lov«." can truthfully say : 
 I iive; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me;" then the 
 'works that Christ does "shall we do also." Hence we 
 shall strive, ndt sa-'inuch to^get to heaven, as lo brin- 
 heaven herer We shall b^lanets i-eceiving the light 
 from^the sun, and reflecting i\, upon the worjd. Or, like 
 the disciples, we shall receive the bread from the Saviour^ 
 hand, and distribute it ^mong the .starving multitudF 
 .V«ssels,.ipstrumeiits of grace," it will be our joy to 
 spend Aur time . 
 
 "'■'"'' i V ;,'''Twixt the mount and multltudv^ 
 
 ■ Doing or receiving good." 
 
 , God ' will "inake us a biessing." This was^ part 
 of thejpurpose of Christ^s death. We are told He 
 
 gave Himself for us. that He might redeem u^ from 
 all miquity. and purify unto Himself a peculiar people 
 ualo^^of ^ood worksr Christ'^ life was also designed to 
 Assist in th^lftmepurposa:, He "went about doing good," 
 
 leaving u^ an example.: that we should Mow His steps." 
 
 He wa^.acfcive.and active in doing good. ; He did not shut 
 
 Jimself upinllwownenjojrpients, or In the contemplation 
 
 9f the glory ^that was before -^ Him. He' did riot w^ for 
 
 opportunUie8,^utmade.^h^^^^^ ahd went not only to those ' 
 
 ttiat ^needed Him. but to those who neer»ed Him most 
 
 He did not eonflne Himself to what is purely spiritual. 
 
 but relieved the temporal necessitieP of those around Him 
 
 He healed the sick, fed the butogiy^ conilbrt^ 
 
 taught the ignorant; So must we, if • we would have His 
 
 smile and bej?Artakers of His giory. ^Idleness is wickedness- . 
 Belnshness IS sm. ' . '. ^ 
 
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 l^e great business of life is to do ^od. For thU we 
 
50 ^^ OlD PROMISE FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 r are to get, «nd 8«ve, and give. Fov this our blessings axe 
 given us/ and woe be (o us if we .misapply our Master's 
 property. The Master keeps a strict account, if w^ do 
 not ; and *' II is required in stewards " that they " be found 
 faithful." Unfaithfulness will bring certain punishment. 
 Blessings not rightly used, becon^e curses. Stagnant aif 
 becomes poison. Stagnant water spreads disease and 
 death; and riches not rightly used, become corrupt— " gold 
 and silver cankered; and the bust of them" will "be a 
 witness against " their owners, and will " eat^^ their flesh as 
 it were fire." Oh, let us be on tli^ Watch against this peril 1 
 and "as we have opportunity, da ^;)od unto all men, 
 especially unto them who are o^ the household of faith.*' 
 Wo shall thus make to ourselves " friends of the 'mammoa 
 of unrighteousness." Let us begin the year by saying: 
 "My business this year is to » bless aa many people as I 
 caii." Opportunities will meet us at 6very step if we are 
 prepared to seize .them ; and if we do seize^hem, we sh^U 
 .'ensure our having, in the highest and fullest sense, aveiy 
 happy New Year. May G6d say to, every reader of thea 
 words: "I will bless thee ; and thou shalt be a blessiuitl'* 
 and, receiving the promiSb^ let us gratefully sing— 
 
 "The God of AbrtJiam praise, 
 ,<. Whose all-suffleientgr^ce 
 
 Bhal) guide mdTi^l my happy d^yi^ 
 In alllny waj's. 
 Heealls a worm His friend, • 
 He calls Himself my God ; 
 And He shall save me to the end, 
 Through Jesn's blood." 
 
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 ^OW^ ro ENSURE A ffAJhPy NEW YEAH. 
 
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 *'L«t th« cbitaren otZhn U JoyfVil in their King."— Pa^oxlix., i«rt of 
 
 file aecond verM. 
 
 WITH good wishes meeting us at every step, how i* 
 it that so few of God's people live really happy 
 liveB ? There are doubtless a combination of reasons, but 
 the principal one is the sad fact that most of themUlnake 
 their happiness depend on the creature, and not 'on the 
 Creator. David was the representative of the human' 
 family when he said : " My soul cleaveth unto the dust." 
 And Christians,, as well ns worldings, look at things seen 
 more than at things not seen. We leave the fountain of 
 living waters, and hew out cisterns that can hold no water. 
 The ^ world, with its cares, and sorrows so occupies our 
 minds, tliat God and heaven have but a passing thought 
 We are "careful and troubled about many things," ftnd it' 
 'Fequires a great effort to look at our privileges, and joys; 
 We are often asking: "What shall I eat ? and what shall 
 I drink ? and wherewithal shall I be clothed ?" rather 
 'than: "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His 
 benefits toward me?" I want, by God's help, to say a 
 few words to correct this, and hope to do so by cniforcing 
 
 ' " » A New Yeaf's Sermon for 1886. ■ ' \ 
 
 -« ^ 
 
 ^.^TKHMEI^- 
 
 
\ " 
 
 -Y 
 
 upon my randora tho advico which David gtve to tho 
 people or (jod nearly threu thoiiHand yvar^ ago. Wu hav9 
 but to titko this advico ajid a happy Now Year will bo ours. 
 
 I. l>ook at Zion. There are three Zions spoken of in 
 the Bible. There is flr^, the Zion of the Jew, which wa* 
 a hill in Judroa, on one prominence of which David builb 
 
 ti palace, and on another Solomon built tho Templo* 
 ere is next, tho Zion above, of which John speaks in Ui» 
 Revelation ; and, thirdly, there is the Zion of tlio Church 
 to which my text refers, and of which God says it ia^ 
 "graven on fi^s hands." That Zion, of which the first was. 
 ft type, and of which the second will be tliQ overhisting 
 home. ■"■■•' ■,: '■ ^m^ .■ 
 
 II, Look at Zion's children. Twy are non of them 
 oIHIdren by birth. They are- all children by " adoption 
 and grace." " By nature they are the children of wrath„ 
 even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for Hi» 
 great love wherewith" He hath loved them, even while 
 they were "dead in trespasses and sins," has made theim 
 " the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus ; " and has 
 "translated" them out of the -kingdom of darkness "into 
 the kingdom of His dear Gon." They are "now no 
 more strangers and foreigners," but are " fellow^^citizena 
 with the saints," and have become " the precious sons of 
 ^ion." 
 
 " Glorious things are spoken " of these children ; and at 
 some of these I want to glance. Firat, there is a great 
 variety amongst them. They differ in almost every respect. 
 They differ in their age. Some of them $re " babes " full 
 of weakness, and having everything to learn. Others are in 
 the noon of life, bearing " the burden and heiat of the day." 
 Others of them are grey-haired, and are waiting with almost* 
 eager longing for their translation to a better home. They 
 differ in their 
 
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 pd t ^ion in life. — Some of them are "cloth e d 
 in purple and fine linen/ and fare " sumptuously everjr 
 
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 liOlV TO ENSUh'K A HAPPY NEW YEAR. 53 
 
 *''^ay,** wlille otlicrt don't know ^loro th«lr noxt niwil It to 
 conm from. Tknj diffrr in their Dtxpffifnce. Homo of thum 
 nimintainocr."!, who live where the sunshine conifs first 
 I lingers last; others are ilowland«rs, who live where the 
 hino conies last and ^|ftvo8 tl||t, and where the sky is 
 'er very clear. Some of thndr have pno fierce fight^ 
 henceforth enjoy |Hjrfect |EVme ; otlwrs of them ar*-- 
 
 ■'■1 
 
 
 'i 
 
 men of wm from their youth. They <jju scarcely shotit 
 
 hurrah over one victory, ba|oro thoy arr in the thick of 
 
 another struggle. They aim differ in their opinions. There 
 
 have been many efforts made to make them Irtiink alike ; 
 
 it hoa, however, been found to be utterly impossible to 
 
 accomplish it. The minds of men are so differently con- 
 
 jtitu^d that they must Hake different views of the mattori 
 
 ihat come before them. Hence uniformity of opinion can 
 
 ily be a dream. 
 
 \ Secondly, with all this variety there is a marvelloui 
 
 iMniKy amonfjst them : They are all one in nature. They 
 
 N**aye all oiJMi Christ Jesus." They form His mystical 
 body. So clS is their union that Paul says : They are 
 
 * "of^His body, of His flesh, and of His bones ;" and their 
 Divine M>rd declores that their union with Him is' such 
 that whoso " toucheth" them " touchetli the apple of His 
 «ye." 
 
 They^^m^ all one in heart. Whatever difference there 
 may be in other respects, they are all loyal to their King. 
 Touch their" heads and they differ, but touch their hearts 
 and they are one. Talk about the kingdom, and they 
 quarrel; but talk about the King, and they worship 
 and adore. To every one of them His name ia music, 
 
 _: His face beauty, and His presence heaven. The only true 
 test of sonship is "What think ye of Christ ? ** The man 
 that loves Christ is a child of Zion wherever he may 
 
 — worship, or what e v e r name h e be a rs. — And the m a n th a t 
 
 '■i» .■ 
 
 does not love Christ, whatever his name or position, has no 
 
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 54 ^OW TO ENSURE A HAPPY NEW YEAE, 
 
 pftrt or lot in the matter. He is an impostor, atid no true 
 man. 
 
 Thirdly, tliey enjoy exalted privileges. David saidt 
 "Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in- 
 law?" What, then, is it to be the King's son, and that 
 King the Mighty God ? There are those who set a light 
 estimate upon Church-fellowship, and are far more easily 
 detached from the Church to which they belong than from 
 their political party. It is a huge mistakej a mistake that 
 greatly injures them, and sadly dishonours and weakens 
 the cause of God, I believe in the army, but I believ© 
 also in the regiment ; and I believe in every man joining a- 
 regiment, and having joined his regiment putting on the 
 regimentals, and being faithful unto death; What |aatters it 
 
 . that a comrade_flaay<nisunderstand, Or even insult me ? I 
 do not serve W comrade, but my King. * 
 
 „ But whatever We may tfiink of membership with the-, 
 visible Church, membership with the spiritual Church is a 
 privilege, the value 6f which no human mind can com- 
 pute. There is no higher honour tlian to be a child of 
 
 ;'Zion.. :;■.-;■.: .;■.;, '-"[,::l_: ^ -■:/■■■ 
 
 Yirsi, they enjoy ptAlic rcbffnUion. Admission into the 
 family is Ji solemn transaction performed by Almighty God 
 in the presence of the holy angels. Hence not only does 
 God recognise the children of Zion, but every angel can 
 recognise them, whether they are woifking in a coal pit 
 or governing a kingdolp. i* 
 
 Second, they enjoy fyeedom of access to their King. T» 
 them His throne is ever accessible, and His ear/ ever open. 
 In trouble they can comefto Him for comfort; in per- 
 
 ' plexity they can come to Him for guidajice ; in danger 
 
 they can come to Him for deliverance; in toil they can 
 come to Him for help*. Hence they are the most in- 
 fluential persons in the world. The men of science can 
 influence matter; the oitttor and legislator can influence 
 
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 HOW TO ENSURE A HAPPY MEV^ YEAH. 5$ 
 
 men; but the child of Zion. iis^t^uence Godi He can 
 "move the Arm that mov^ Ahe world.'* 
 
 ■ ,. . .■ i ::. ,.'"'-■;.■ .. ■■;■:■■ ■■/■•■.■ 
 
 •' O wmdrous power of fiithful pjrnyer ! . » 
 
 \iiat tonguo can tell the Almighty grai« f 
 
 Qpd's hands or bound or open ar*-, 
 
 As Moses or Elijah prajM : ^ ; ,/ ^ 
 
 Let Moses in the Spirit grqar, ." 
 
 And Ooil cries out : • Let Me alone 1'" 
 
 Hqmember that what is true^ of Moses and Elijah is true of 
 every cliild of Zion. ** God is no respecter of persons." 
 
 Let parents' remember this. Their children may be 
 absent from home, and kieir hearts fuUof anxiety respect- 
 ing them. They write tb^ministers, and to Christian friends, 
 to*8olicit their sympathy and care ; and they do well ; but 
 above alllt is their privilege to secnre the sympathy and 
 help of their King. The letter to the minister may mis- 
 carry, but a believing prayer is niever lost. The minister 
 may be unable to meet with the object of your solicitude, 
 but none can hide himself from God. The minister inay 
 forgetrihe application, bi^od never forgets. Let parents, 
 there&^JliyB up to their privileges, and' pour out their 
 hearts before God. ' . 
 
 Let the entire Church rerti^mber this. We are all 
 anxious for the extension otthe kingdom, of which vwe 
 arc citizens, and muih' tinie is given to the perfecting q% 
 machiiiery and the securing of efficient workers for tlie 
 accomplishment of our object. . All this is wise and right; 
 but when we have secured the most perfect machinery, 
 we shall hear the voice of the King saying : " Without ift 
 ye can do nothing." We iare constantly in danger of look- 
 ing too low. We look to the pulpit when we should be 
 looking to the throne. We isxpect the ambassador to do 
 what °an only be 'doiie by the King. When "Zion 
 travails she brings forth her children ; 'V not, when she 
 Ojuly organizes, and talks, and holds' grand gatherings ; but 
 
 
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 56 HOW TO ENSURE A HAPPY NEW YEAR. * • 
 
 when aU " travails." -When she gives herself to prayer, 
 when the closet echoes with her pleadings, and is bedewed 
 %ith her tears; then God will say « Amen " to her prayers, 
 and "add to the Church such as are being saved." "To 
 your tents, therefore, Israel ! " 
 
 '" In fellowship, alone, - 
 ''To God with faith draw near, 
 Approach His courts, besiege His throne^ 
 With all the powers of prayer : 
 
 Go to His temple, go, " ' _ 
 
 '• >Nor from His altar move ; < 
 . 'Let every housQ His worship know, 
 And every heart His lore." 
 
 thirdly, look at Zion's Ziw<7. Zion is not a mob, npt a 
 republip, but a kingdom with perfect laws, and a glorious 
 King. That King is t^^rd Jesus Christ. It is of. Him 
 that Jehovah speaks ^I^pie says : <*I have set my King 
 upon my holy hill of Zion." "He has made Him to be . 
 
 . head over all things to His Church." His laws are absolute. 
 His will supreme. His authority boundless. He lives to 
 
 / guide, protect, and bless His j^ople. Hence it is our joyous 
 
 \)arivilege to sing-—- . . 
 
 "This, this- is the God we adore,^ 
 . Our faithful, unchangeable Friend : 
 
 r*^ • Whoso love is as great as His power, ^ 
 
 And neither knows measure nor end." 
 
 To every child of Zion. X would therefore cry : " Thy God 
 reigneth ! " " Cloud^ and darkness " may be " round about 
 Him;" but "righteousness and judgment are the habitation 
 of His throne." 
 
 Fourthly, look at Zion's joy. " Let the children of Zion 
 be joyful in their King." What a rebuke this is to those 
 who regard religion as a thing of gloom! SataVi and his 
 emissaries have, persuaded men that Zion is a second Sinai : 
 a place where the sun never shines, -and songs are never 
 heard, and smiles are never seen : a place where men 
 
 
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 HOW TO ENSURE A HAPPY NEW YEAR, 57 
 
 «( 
 
 
 exceedingly fear and quake." We obtained this lid from 
 that miserable mimicry of Christianity, Popery. Would 
 that it were back there again I lb is a libii^l on Zion, and 
 an insult to Zion's King. No, Zion is not a place of 
 gloom; it is the brightest spot on esirth ; itis a place where* 
 the sun shines all the year through, and where V _, 
 
 "December's 08 plealint as May." . 
 
 It is "the* joy of the whole earth ;" and all the true joy 
 there is in the world has come from Zion. Her Kin^ is the 
 one' fountain of joy. There may be tietitious, imitation, joy 
 ,iu the world, men may " kindle a fire," and walk "in the 
 sparks " that they liaiVe " kindled ; " but it is^a false' fire 
 that only makes their darkness visible — •_ i, 
 
 "Their joy is all sadness, ■* 
 
 Their mirth is all vain. 
 Their laughter is madness. 
 Their pleasure is pain." ■ ,' ^ 
 
 ^he children of Zion have " the joy of the LobI ; **, a joy 
 that no man taketh from theni, a " jci|^nspeakable, and 
 full of glory." They "joy in the Lordj^^^w they journey 
 onward — • ; . ^^ 
 
 •'Their song awakes with opening light, , ^ , 
 
 And cheers the dark and silent night." 
 .. .X . - ?; 
 
 The only truly joyful people in the worl^ are the children 
 of Zion. 
 
 ■ ■ r 
 
 It is their instinct to be joyfuV God makes all His 
 cr«>atures to be happy^ and when His will is ''done^on earth 
 as it is in heaven," 1 '. 1^ ■ 
 
 " Sorrow and sighing sliall flee away."' 
 
 What a wealth of happiness He bestows upon His creatures I 
 We see it in the gnats that float in the sunbeam ; in thid 
 lambs on the hillside ; in the kitten at the hearth ; in, the 
 little children crowded into courts where a sunbeam never 
 
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 i^ }f0lV TO ENSURE A HAPPY NEW YEA A 
 
 ■:, •■-''^*":'..':v ■■ ■; '■'^■•■■; ;. .■.,;:-::*v„-:;V":' '■•,.;>■■'.;'.':■■ .■■' : 
 
 cornes, aBs4 where a breath of^ureiir cannot enter, 
 clad and .ill-fed, how they, triumph over their surroundings^ 
 and ^ make the courts ring with their merry laughter I 
 People talk about apausing. children : if we leave them 
 alone, . healthy c^ildten wilt always /aninse themselves, 
 ,Kow the God that made MS to be joyou^ children, has made 
 'us to be joyous childly, of Zion. It would haV^ been out 
 of harmony with Bis other works if He had not. BTence 
 joy is on0 of the earliest fruits of tho^yjfit, and one of tile 
 Chris^tiari's first utterances is a songwjoy. 
 >< THe^^ Bible is given to us to make us joyful. It contains 
 "•^lad tidings of great joy ; " and John, as the mouthpiece of , 
 all the other writers, says ; " These things write vve unto 
 you, that your joy may be full." " • 
 
 • ■ Jt is the command of God that we slioulelthe joyful. It is 
 not left to our cold hearts to decide. Gold's will is clearly 
 rev0aled. There is no duty so often laid upon us in the 
 Bible as that of joy. It is Repeated over and oyer again. 
 Hence, in /entering upon the New Year with smiles, and 
 gifts, and /good wishes, we are acting according to the will of 
 •pur HeayenHy Father.' What, then, is to be the object of 
 the joy M the children of Zion ? ;> ■'''■: \ 
 
 Notmehlessi^ngs vnth which God may intrust ^hem. "If 
 richesyincrease, set not .your Keart upon them,'* is a cautio 
 full oil meaning for oth,ers than the wealthy. Nottliefn^ndi 
 ihav God ,imy give the^; Prize them j thank God for 
 thpn. Bi|t to make Our happiness depend upon them is to 
 
 )e like the heath in the desert ; '' 4^^ ensure disappoint- 
 ment and sorrow. • : .. ■ ^N* 
 >•/■.. ^ " ■ '■■,'•..■„ ■■*■»■. 
 
 " " Ho builds too Jow that builds beluw the skies." 
 
 The creatures *can' never take the place' of the Creator. 
 
 They are imperfectrr— they change or diet Not our frames 
 
 'nnd feelings. Joyous feelings are very pleasant, and there^- 
 
 foro very welcome; but they are very nnreliabla They ar§ 
 
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 IfaW TO ENSVi^ A HAPPY NE W YEAR. 59 
 
 ' ■■'■'-■•■ r , ■ ' -.■ ' ■ ■ . . ' ' ' ' ■ ' / .:■ ' • " ' ■' . •■ 
 
 influenced not^dnly by our Telationship to Qod. but by the 
 estate of our health, by our food, by the atmosphere, by \X>^ 
 way of Ihe wind, and a thousand other things. Feelings are 
 like icebergs— beautiful to look upbn in thcj sunshineXjbut 
 never meant for foundations. The habit of introspection; of 
 watching our fedings, is as injurious td the soul, as it is 
 to the body. The Christian should. >ratbh his conduct ifiost 
 carefully, should avoid even the aibpearance of evil, should 
 ♦• follow the Lamb whithersoever I[e goeth; " but the less 
 he thinks about his feelings the better for hhnself, and for 
 
 i 
 
 those around him. 
 
 a worthier object than 
 
 in. Xt tells us to be 
 
 one of us^will obey the 
 
 He is with \is-^with 
 
 f^ 
 
 ■*s 
 
 
 The text turns our thoughts to 
 
 •ourselves J it bids us look wp noS 
 'J joyfdl in our King." If every 
 comtinand, a happy year is certain 
 
 us is our Saviour and Friend. - Property^ may make itself 
 wihgs, friends may change or die, but we can ever say, " the 
 best** of all is/God is with us." He is bendhtg, over us 
 with tenderest sympathy, and lo«efr Let ^"tis ^return Jlis 
 glance; let us trust and love and praise Him; let us be 
 V' joyful in our KWl;'' let fts do it in our dosot ; let 
 
 y lis do it in our cla^ let us do it in the great congregatioh; . 
 
 /Let this be the work of the ^ear; and then, whatever our 
 
 ' positidn and circunafetances,''the yeafc will be blessed indeed, 
 ^^o help in this work, let me suggest, ft few of the^ppics.on 
 
 which we m f^|yjw cll. L" - ^^ 
 
 First, rejoSKn ' His c^roc^^flfckvery Christian shoul 
 be a theologian. Many •of theHPren of ^n^' havfe not 
 the knowledge of God." They d^T "4 Jfc^ ^ "^*^® 
 have believed." This grieves God] HftfearfuUy i 
 . them. God has revealed Himself iii. tiis Word ; He 
 therefore be known, and in proportion' as He is known, He 
 
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 iw; 
 
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 will l?e trusted, and loved. Ey^iy attribute of <^ King is 
 
 a reason for joy to His « children.'i We should makJ 
 
 . everything give twayiiyQrder that- we may obtain this ki^jpr 
 
M: 
 
 I^dgl^ll^d afm^btfti^dl^ ^r should; h>i^e i^';1tnown to 
 <^ba||<^V.lQ8tfm|p going to thlf class-meetittg. ttt^Sliscotirage 
 , . :- <^^i^^Kith.Xhe^4mafM^ the. 
 
 '>\i;.«, S^gtSlllr, rejmofiin^J^ "Why" are the four 
 
 given, but that , wi^'^ hiav "read, mark, learn, and 
 Jy- digest" tliem? That we may each^ 
 
 ;|rx'^' 
 
 k/^ 
 
 ^i; 
 
 j,^ , "8e«rctithootm«a Divine, ' . ^ 
 Till «v«iyi|e'i#|blti won} b« mine." 
 
 * jV 
 
 . Thirdly, rejojiee in ^is «A:« — in what ffe hatidpne: |pr 
 
 I 'f| the wor^; for the Church, f6t^s I Let.ua remember all the 
 
 -way jivhich He has led ps j I^I^ais. to-'day loiok back, and as 
 
 / Me jdo ft, let us gratefully sip^T- . '■[ 
 
 .And temptatioBS, and sniirai, 
 
 
 -f" 
 
 ••j, ^ * •' ' 
 
 , Thy, Hand lias -conducted me through I 
 "tli^ blessings bc^owed , , 
 By a bountiful.Gbd, . ; 
 
 And tlte' mercies eternally new I 
 
 ^ In wkai ffe is ^iM«^--4<;^tpg in Prdyidence, doing in 
 * Otmbt Havf.wide the freI<H how encoiimsMog'the scene t 
 
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 « ^ How muc^i better to dw.eir on'this than, oh our bwn defects, / 
 or the defects of othieri! The King is still^workirig, and 
 His wofks still '.vbear witness of Hini." Let us '.' seek them,. * ** -^ 
 out ".and -^triumph In Hh^"^ ' Whe^-^ we meet, let S^ 
 
 ingdom^ and tailk^' . 
 ur faith .and increase >M|, % 
 
 duties wJiich li© before us. "^ <^ *♦"• 
 
 ''speak pf the glory qf 
 . p. >wer:" This will ^Jstren 
 ' dk. ' ^^^ invigorate 
 
 JBBEealizing His y fes'ei jm gileadershi p "^'ill give^ confi* • ,, J^^ 
 4lence. and .Courage, a y^jjg^u s forth to the worff clfj^od^- A't 
 with invincible .poM-er.fMBlyt x ' « ! / 
 
 > In viikdt He is going iag^S^HhQ blessed present iS'0n1§r: ,,|i^\* V^ 
 ' preparatory., to a g|3riou4Hpcre. Many df the children 
 \ of • Zion seem to fo rget '^is.^ Tnfitetfd of antiqipating 
 
 fcTT*" 
 
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.V 
 
 NOW TOENSURS A HAPPY ^EW YEAR. 6r 
 
 , the future, they, Are mourning over the past Instead > 
 of going to their home' " with „ their faces thitherward/" 
 catching the glory, and hearing echoes of the songs, they are 
 walking backwards. Weeping over troubles through which 
 
 "Ood has safely brought them ; or else, " careful apd.flroubled 
 about many things,'* they are ' bowed down under a l0ad of 
 
 , anxiety, their foreheads furrOyi^ed with care, and their eye»^ 
 red with weeping. Like the m4a With the m\ick-xake» 
 
 ' they are gathering together straws and little sticks, and 
 never look at the crown of glory that i"* just above theni^ 
 To all such I would cry : " Coronation day is Comirtg ! '* 
 Many und^r the shadow of unbelief sigh Out : " We don't 
 know what there is before us." True ; we don't for a. 
 moment or two ; but, thank Qod, we do to all eternity. 
 There is " fulness of joy," and " pleasures for evethixore."^ 
 
 • Tea, poor sufferer, ? • • 
 
 " ' ' * , • • • • 
 
 "A crown of bright glory iff wftiting for thee f " 
 
 Thott hast often gon& forward and met troubles ; this 
 morning go forward and meet thy joys; ''antedate tlje 
 feast 5f;love.^'" Put on thy crown! — it will ease the head- 
 ache, Put on thy crown !— it will cure the heartache. Put 
 ■ on thy crown Ir-r-it will wean 'thee .from the 'world.' Put on 
 thy crown ! — it will be a foretaste of heaven, ' To many .of 
 us this will be the last year on earth, and the first year ia 
 lt« Iwaven. Oh, joyous, thought 1 next New Year's Day ^1 
 
 
 
 " F<^r from a world of grief, and sin, 
 * * With Go4'«te0pUy shut ifa." 
 
 V. 
 
 • <u 
 
 ' r 
 
 <*.*/;! dont understand ll^e children. of' Zion being afraid to die. 
 /Good chiMren-aFe naver afraid |o meet a good 'father. His- 
 ' M comities anticipated, and longed for^ahd welcomed. So it 
 , / ' sh^d be uitS us ; • and instead of dwelling oh the agony of 
 ' P^JS^^M'^ shopliS dwell on the h^f^^f me^trng. Many of 
 ' us have'* d| ag^^ portionig£ ie¥e, .an d aa we look at t]>na q ^ift 
 
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 49 HOW tX> ENSURE A HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
 . ■ ■ ^ 
 
 love our lips quiver and our hearts sink ; but however good 
 it is to be here. " to be with Christ is far better." 
 
 . Let us then realize the full blessedness of our citizenship ; 
 let us live up to our dignity ; let Us be joyful in our King. 
 Whatever the y^ar may bring, it will not.separate us from 
 Him — whoeverfails, He will riot depart He is ouij God for 
 «ver and «ver. , > 
 
 ■■■■■■'.■•.,:,.. ; , ■ •■ 
 
 : " ^^17 "• *' We are His, ai|d He id <mn, * :7~^""^1' " .T" 
 
 Toalletetnlty." . !: : 
 
 Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King 1" 
 
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 iVSTiSr GHBISTIAN'S JOYOU^^KNOWLEDGE.\ 
 
 ,*' We know that all ihingt work top^tlier for good to them ■ 
 that love OotL'—KoM. yiii, 88. 
 
 T is the privilege of every.Mild of God to have, 'a happy 
 ,New*»Year, His happiness does not depend V4;]ln his 
 circun^stances, but on hia faith. vH||k.snot only saves from 
 sin, artd hell, but (lom^anxiety 'WJ^ar. The Gliristian, 
 whose faith is strong, can rejoice in tribulation, and in eve!*y> 
 thing give thanks. Faith, lipyvever,, can only stand on God's 
 Word. Love, Jind hope, can stand almost anywhere, but 
 faith must have a " t|ijiis sa^th the Lord " under its feet. *If, 
 therefore, this morning, We would triumph over adverse 
 circumstances', and take our part ijQ th'e New' Year's sopg, 
 we mns^ look at God's .\^g^u{d rest upon its glorious 
 truths. I The Bible containBBWfertain remedy for eyisry 
 hujinan sorrow, and is given to us that, though living in a 
 ** vale of tears,'' our " joy may be fuU.";^ There is, however, no 
 magical influence in tlie mere possession, of the Bible ; in 
 order to secure its joy, We niust " read, mark, learn, and 
 inwardly digest" its life-giving words, Medicin© will not 
 cure unless it is taken, and the Bible Will never cheer 
 unless it is read, and believed. 'If wc do not " search the 
 Scriptures," we shall never find their priceless treasures. 
 God will never work a miracle to reward us for idleness. 
 An enlineht writer ^las said that " The 
 
 m^n- 
 
 } A NeV,Yeat>8 Soniion fo; 1887. 
 
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 ^ >; THE cmismHl^jO YOUS KNO WLEOGE, 
 
 lgndi#i*|illftf*W8|feveipi,wicj«;ed man who does not make 
 some good resolution on Now Year's day." Wlia^^ better 
 resolution can we make tlian that 1887 shall" l%a year of 
 careful Bible .study. If we do this, we may rely upon it 
 that it will be a' year of .holiness, usefulness, and joy. 
 Hesitation, doubt, and fear will die, and " strong in faith 
 
 _we shall give glory to God/' _ \^ 
 
 chapter 
 
 
 
 >>*«i*. 
 
 T"""' 
 
 >: 
 
 'm- 
 
 VOJurs. 
 
 4**'^' 
 
 ^<. 
 
 '/■ 
 
 W- 
 
 In order to this, let us take to-day the chapter of 
 which my text f'orms a part. It has always been a favourite 
 with the p^ple of God, and well it may bej' for it contains 
 an inspired inventory of their wes^ WhatevePl0|||circum- 
 stances this morning, we shall find that in it otl^ase is 
 ■"futly'met"'Xfe'w^iiit)5mitg^jwver^t>w^^ V^\s us ^ ^ 
 
 of a full and free pardonT What should we think cj^he 
 tradesman who, this morning, took down the files cont™»g 
 an t|j^ills he had received during )M past life, and casting^ ik 
 up the Wtal, declared he was a bankrupt, though every biH y 
 " Vrf4' His cd^duct would not be more unwise than *^ 
 yo-urs. We may well be ashamed as we look at the dreadful 
 past, but our shame should only intensify our joy as we ^t , 
 ^S^member tlttt all is fo||iven. ^ That, to use the strong words 
 "^'of Bi^hop.*BSveri4^e, "^ur am areij^all crossed out with the 
 • reil blood ot^jple ^atpnernen^ay^'that, in the triumphant 
 .>'>word8^t Uie?i)0^^^^ "There m therefore now no con- 
 - demnjHp # them that are in Christ Jesus." Insteati, 
 > lof }eS th^fore, let Tis rejoice, and with glad hearts 
 
 '.;• ».T.'' ■ .-^' , " No condemnaUon now I dread, 
 
 Jesus, and all in Hiili, is mine 1 " 
 
 :■:■■''■ :■■■.' . : :i ■•; './' ... ''■ ■\-^. 
 
 Are we oppressed with a sense^ol our Wakness ? , The 
 
 chapter tells us of a divine Helper. That our case is fully 
 
 met* for not only does Christ intercede for us in heaven, but 
 
 the Holy Ghost helps us oiir%rth. " Likewise, the Spirit 
 
 also hclpctfi our infirmitie s ." that, a s the weaknes s of a ch i ld 
 
 '*«»» 
 
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 calls out its mother's care, so our weakness will bring us 
 
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 ^E CHRlStJAN'S'JOYOUS KNOWLEDGE, 65 
 
 grortter Ii.olp. That tliough wo fthrink to enter the rugged 
 path tlmt opeiis Uforo us, wo Jietul fear uo evil, for 
 
 " Our Heavenly Oul»io 
 With m ihaU nhUlff, 
 
 #HiM comforts iiiifMirt, ^ 
 . And Mt up iri>i kiiigtloni of love ill our heart. 
 » . By day.anti by night, 
 
 ' '■ • ■• . The i)illar of liglit. 
 
 Our stepii shall (tttond, '# ' 
 And convoy ua wfe to our proHperoun end. "^ 
 
 Are we trembling lest in some unknown future we 
 should fall before our enemies? The chapter asks us, 
 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall 
 tribulation, or distress, or porsecujtion, or famine, or naked- 
 ness, or peril, or sword ? " and triumphantly answers, " Nay, 
 in all these things we are more than conquerors through 
 Him that loved us. For I am p^suaded that neither dcaSj, 
 nor life, ndr angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things' 
 present, nor things to come, n6r height, nor depth, nor any 
 other creature, shall be able/to separate us from the love of 
 God, which is in Christ j4u8 our Lord." We may there- 
 fore triuQiphantly sing/^ 
 
 . " TheeJ^HHt Jchovnh deigna 
 ToJpplpIr, aud defend ; 
 Thdej/the Eternal Oo«l suNtuins, 
 ~liy Alaker and thy Frioiid." 
 
 Are we crushed breath the weight of some great sorrow, 
 and tempted to/&^, "AH these things are against me " ? 
 The text comes/a message from heaven, and as its blessed 
 words fall up<^n our troubled heart, "The clouds disperse, 
 the shadows/fly"— and taking up our laid-by harp, we can 
 joyously s^g— v^ 
 
 , " Away, my needless feara, — - 
 
 And doubts, no longer mine ; 
 
 ';■ ■ .• '' :''■ 
 
 
 / /. A ray of heavenly light appears, 
 / A messenger divine." 
 
 1 
 
 - 
 
 . -■■ / 
 
 "0 
 
 To^elp us therefore to step out into the New Year with a 
 
 / E 
 
 i 
 
 , *^ ' 
 
 ■' /■■•' 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
■fft^,r, 
 
 i 
 
 ■\. 
 
 3s^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 66 T/IE aiKISTIAN'S JO YOUS KNO WLEDGE. 
 
 f' I 
 
 firra atep, and a trnstful lienrt, let uii (hwll for a while on 
 thcie procit)U8 words. Thoy have coinfortod and cheered 
 millioiiH, God «raiit they may comfort mid cheer us! 
 
 First. Let u» looJc at the persons tqwhen of. Everything 
 depends on our knowing? who they are. Unless we know 
 thiB, we shall not know whether we have any interest in 
 the glorious declaration made re«i)ecting them. If Hind 
 an unaddressed parcel in the street, 1 do not claim it as 
 my own. 1 mny open it, and find that it contains some- 
 thing which I greatly need, but I do not therefore say it is 
 niine. I might say, Perhaps some one knew of my need, 
 and laid it there that I miyht find it. But the repl^jr would 
 at once bo, Yes. but perhaps they did not ; and the uncer- 
 tainty would make it impossibb for mo to claim it. If, 
 however, on reaching home, I found that a similar parcel 
 lind been left, bearing my name and address, I should need 
 no more, but at once open it, and appropriate the contents. 
 They would be mine in the most absolute sense. 
 
 Now God's promises and threatenings ore all carefully 
 addressed, and not, as some seem to imagine, given indis- 
 criminately. The name of the person spoken to, or of, is 
 cttrt'fidly given, and no man need mistake. Many, even of 
 God's people, overlook this, and because they have not taken 
 the trouble to ascertain the address, have held the promises 
 sent to them with a trembling hand. They have seized 
 them, and found them to be exactly >Yhat they needed ; but 
 just as^iey were rejoicing in their possession the devil has 
 whispered, "They ar* not for you," and they have relaxed 
 t]jeir grasp and lost t|e blessing. Let us then look at the 
 address on this declaraUon. Who are the favoured persons 
 for whouL there is nothing but blessing, ftnd good ? The 
 answer is very clear and distinct Not everybody, for God 
 says of the wicked, " It shall be ill with them." Not the 
 rich, and wi s e, a nd 
 
 I 
 
 _gri 
 
 ■ni.. for God tells us that His thoughts 
 
 are not as our thonghts ; that we look at the outward 
 
 # 
 
 
 •^g 
 
THM CHRISTIAN'S JOYOUS KNOWLEDQB, 67 
 
 •npearance. whiU^ He looks at the heort Not tfiore 
 ,»rofe»8or» of reliKi<»ii. for (J.kI t«llH uh tlmt though thuy have 
 a nftino to live they may ho (U-ml. Not omcc-lMsarerH iii the ' 
 <;hurch. for (Jud huu told uh that a nmn nmy hohl the hi«hwHt 
 omco.atul yet ho midor Hia diBplouHum, and Imjooiuo iit Iftst 
 -' tt castaway." N.)thin« can ho eleaior than I'aul'H word«. 
 ho Hpoak« of "them that love Oud." Not them that love 
 ^od perfectly, or whowTbv« is ardent, hut those that love 
 <iod at all. The lUhlo di.stinKuishos on this matter, and 
 tells us of " love " and of " pt^rfoct love," of " loving much " 
 and " loving little." John tells us that love is life, that 
 -" every one that loveth is horn of (Jod," is. therefore, a child 
 of God, so that what Paul practically says is, "We know 
 that all thijigs work together for good to the children o( 
 <jlod. Yes. everything depends on our relationship to God. 
 If we are His children, all is well; hut if we are His 
 enemies, we are under the curse, with nothing before us but 
 eternal woe. Love brings us into harmony with God. We 
 become " partokers of the Divine nature," and heirs of all 
 that is good in time and eternity. 
 
 '•^Tlib world 18 ours and worj/ils to come, 
 Earth i» our Iwlgej'ttnd heaven our hoiiiu" * 
 
 The great business of life is to tit us for that home. To 
 make us "meet to be partakers of the inlieritance of 'the 
 «iiijit8 in light." At conversion we become children, and 
 here our education, and training, are carried on, and all the - 
 events of pvovidence.^mid jji^ce, are being employed for this 
 purpose. Death will effect no change in our moral nature, ^r 
 in our relations^Uip to God ; it only ehangeS our residence, ahct 
 translates us front,earth to " The Palacie of Angels and God." 
 Let usHheivijbe* very careful to ascertain our true charac- 
 ter. The declaration \ am about to examine is respect- 
 ing certain clearly specified people. If we belong to these 
 people we qiay weU rejoice; if not, we have no part nor 
 lot ^n the matter. > ^ 
 
 ?: 
 
 .-.J 
 
68 THE CHRISTJAN'S JO YOUS KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 Secondly, 
 things work 
 What a V 
 
 Let us look at Uic cheering dcelarqtiori, "All 
 togeth^ for good." *j. .; 
 
 ildering maze life appears, apart from the Bible I 
 
 Myriads of nighty influences seem to be at work without a,, 
 settled plan, or a guiding hand. Often the wicked prosper . 
 while the ri{[hteou8 are in adversity and sorrow. The wicked «: 
 or the uselefts.live- while the holy.and useful.are hurried,away. 
 Some of th< I wise'gt of earth's sons iiave looked at this till 
 they have said, ''Life is a blunder," and have "praised the 
 dead, which are already dead, more tha» the living who are 
 yet alive." GoiJ's ways seem to be past finding out, all 
 seems fo !)<$ confusion, and uncertainty. When, however, 
 we open' the Bible, all this perplexity ends. We see things- 
 as God sees them, and that all is harmony an^ certainty y 
 that though " clouds ftnd darkness ' are round ' about Him^ 
 righteousneiis and judgment are the habitation of Hi^/ 
 
 throne."' ■ >■ H 
 
 The text shows us the harmony there is jn God's works. 
 First, Tha\s'is ImrmoTvy of (>peralion. "AlJ^ things work 
 together." The agents are prions, but they all act tinder 
 one controiling haad. f-We^see that not only the things' 
 that are bright and jpyous, but those that are dark and 
 painful,'' are. serving the! sovereign will of our loving Father.. 
 And that the dark and; painful tilings are as necessary for \ 
 us as tliose that are bright and joyous. It is so in nature. 
 How doea God provide our food from year to year ? If * 
 we were not awa^e of His mode of producing ihe.harvest,. 
 our fears would. oftei*i plunge us into ' despair. i^October ' 
 coi^es, and where we expect sunshine, there conie the fierce 
 temjpests. Then we are wrapped in the fogs of ^November, 
 
 • and buried in the snows of January. Then come the hard 
 frosts of February, the wild;:^vinds.of March, and the soak- 
 ing rainll of Aprjl.^ W;Q»]d/'^t .^Qur.faith fail up ? ^Should 
 
 • ^e not be ready to sa^pji||pr4ias foi-^otten His promise; 
 Seven months -hav^ ^aiwtrfVA '«»^'in tn 'ho farther off 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
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 ' THE CHRISTIAN'S JOYOUS KNOWLEDGE. 69 
 
 from harvest than ever ! But by and by the warm gun, 
 and soft showi'rs, are sent, ami a glorious harvest is the 
 result. Now, what produced that joyous re^ilt ? Not the 
 ' fo«' of NovemkT, iior the snow of Janu&ry, nor the frost of 
 February, nor the winds of March, nor the rain of Aprd. 
 No ; nor the sunshine of June, and July/ Had all been fog. 
 there would have been no harvest. Hdd all been frost and 
 snow, there would have been no harvest. „ Had all been 
 rain and wind,< the harvest woitld not have <Jome. And had 
 /All been sunshine, it w^ukl not have come ; had the sun 
 /shone steadily on from October to August, all wo^d have 
 been barrenness and death. Hence the farmers say. "If ■ 
 the sky is always blue, the fields will be always brown." 
 Yes, neither sunshine nor shade, heat or cold, could do it 
 alone. Each is needed— equally needed ;^nd, "working 
 together," they produce o, result, over which heaven and 
 ^arth rgjoice. As if is in nature, so it is iii grace. " All. 
 things work together." Joy and sorrow, prosperity and- 
 adversity, gain and loss, pleasure aiwi p4n, -; Each has a 
 quality, and an influence, which the other does not possess ; 
 >^4ind, " <vorkingnogether " under the guiding hand of Him that 
 
 loves us best, they will by and by produce :re»ult8 that will 
 ^ fill eternity #ith joy. Tlie process is often as mysterious 
 «s in chemical experiments. In-watching tji^s'e, a novice 
 wili be sorely perplexed, and for a time 'pronpunce them 
 tailnres; but if he waits, till the last ingreilient Ja added, 
 he will Ije filled with wonder "at thu work, and. admiration 
 of the worker. • So it wwll bo with the process by which 
 . the work is efl^cted onxus. It may be long and perplex- 
 ^ ing, and we i^iiy ofte^ be temjted to complain-; but if w€ 
 trust the -Glorious Worker,. when the* work is finished, we, 
 shall ta^ke our place among the great multitud^ around the 
 
 
 1 
 
 , . , ; tlijwne, ana as we^^om 4u«*i*oti ouug «. i>.».^^ : ^ •; 
 
 '", «»Abov« the rest tins note slinlUwell,' -' .,.-•;,. 
 '• "• Mv Ii»Hus has done ftU thiiiKs weir.'' . , ' ,. ;. -V.^', .; • V, 
 
 
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 70 THE CHRISTIAN'S JOY&^SKNOWLEliG^ ,'; , 
 
 '3ecoiid, Th^re, is harmony of design. • God lias a pup- 
 pdse in all His works, and thei'efoi-j in His diealii>gs \^ith 
 His children. What is that purpose ? Their present, and . 
 eternal welfare. In all things, and in all ways. He la ever 
 8eekin*» our "good/. Is It not so with us in pur conduct " » 
 to our children ? We are anxious for their Ifappiness,. 
 but above all for their good. In seeing to secure this„ 
 
 ^we often have toMjross their plaks, and deny their 
 requests. Doubtless their faith in^ouV love i^pften triedr ■ 
 and our conduct Appears to be unlgidr The bitter ciip^' 
 the chastisement, the schoolroom^ tfe\ hard and difficult 
 lesson, the banishment, seem so little like the conduct 
 of one who loves theftif I can imaging the child 'saying 
 
 ,,in his heart. My father says He loyes mc.'but it doe* ' 
 not look like love to send me from hojiiej to live in. tli© 
 midst of strangers, and doom ?me to spend my day» 
 in the unl(>vely schoolroom just when the flowers are- 
 blooming^ and the fruit is rip^ ; Vet ©Very fatlier ..^ 
 knows that it is the strongest proof of his love tliat he- 
 can give. That it requires fur more love to punish than 
 to pet, to -send the child away, than to welcofhehim home. - 
 That we deny ourselves of pleasure, and put ourselves^ tb • 
 pain for our childreu's beweht. That their '^ good'' is i our 
 constant aim. So it is witji^our Father's dealings with us. 
 He " doth not willingly afflict/' but Hu loves ^is so well, that ' 
 to secure our " good," He does not spare the chastisement 
 and pain. Providence and grace " work together,'^ an^ 
 XJod will not spare us "much tribulation" to bring us- ijjtc> 
 
 f 
 
 *> 
 
 ^ tha kingdom, to wean us frorfi the woMtl, to nmTcp us 
 
 -like Clinst; ""antKnieet for hec\ven. Thousands of God'a 
 
 . people will%ye to bless Hifti' for ever for disappointBient,. 
 
 pain, and sorrow. It was "not |oyous, but grievous; but 
 
 ° afterwards it yielded the peaceable iiui'ts bf rigbteousiiesal^ 
 
 So the sanctiiary and the sick-chauil)er, the ftiin|ster and 
 
 the physician, the pleasure aiid,the puin, ti»e days of dark:-* 
 
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 iaess ajwl the days of sunshine, the simle and the tear, the 
 cot'ana the coffin, the fuU home and the vacant home, hfe 
 and death, have all •• worked te^ether for goofl." 
 • The text shows us the certainty of this. "We know, 
 hot. we imagine, or hope, or even believe. ."We A;W' 
 This is one of Paul's favourite words, and is doubfless 
 the secret of his strength." Where there is uncertainty, 
 there will be hesitation and fear. Where there is cer- 
 tainty, there will be firmness and courage. So it was with 
 Paul He looked at tlie trials around him. and though they 
 weretony and fierce, he triuttiijhantly says, " I^ A;>«)i(; *hey _ 
 shall turn to my salvation." Kud when death threatened 
 him he smiled at his dart, and said, "Weknoio that if our ' 
 earthly house of this taben^cle were dissolved, we have a 
 building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal m 
 the heavens." And having thrown the light of heaven upon 
 his troubles and suflerings, he sees them as they are seen by 
 God and lays, " I reckon that the sufferings of this life ai'e 
 riot to |e commred to^the glory that shall be revealed m^ 
 •us fo/^ur li|ht laffliction. which is but for a moment, 
 workethg^or i# a far more exceeding and. eternal weight of 
 glory^^Soin Uietext he triumphantly declares, " Jfcimo?^ 
 that ^ii%lng^ work together for good." If; then, Paul knew 
 [t and God changes not^ It is not an open question/ but a 
 .riou^ certainty, on wfiich the feeblest saint may unhesi- 
 
 ■tii\glyi «ind always)- rely. 
 
 ^ Let us, however, to strengthen our faith and to cheer our 
 ' htfpp, Ispk^or a moment at the evidence by which Paul's 
 
 declaration is sustained. ^'''" ' . / 
 
 ' '. Firs'i, We have the testimony of PtCason. / If God is our 
 ■Fatherland all power in heaven and eayii is His, is it not 
 Icertaiihthat He will overrule everything for His children's 
 
 gdtfd? If we admit the fatherhood of God; His provir 
 .. dentiar care 6f His children is an infaliible certainty. If 
 ' w6. .being evij, know' how to give good gifts to our childt(^, 
 
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 how much more shall our Father in heaven give good things 
 
 ...to usJ. - ■>;;§:#.: /•'\ "■'• :'"'■'■''■ V":-' •'•■V' ■"..')■ '■•■',•..'■; ■""■ 
 
 • Second, We have thi^ testimony of the Bible.- This is 
 vliot a sdiitary declaration. Passages of similar import are 
 ' found throughout the bqok. Solomon says, " I know it shuU 
 be well with them that fe^r God." David says, " Blessed 
 is every one that fearcth the Lord ; it shall be well with 
 him," Isaiah says of the righteous, " It shall be well with 
 him," and we find that this word of grace " is strong as thatf 
 which built the skies."-^^— ^ — -^»^ -— 
 
 Third, We have the testimony of the Church. A cloud" 
 of witnesses are behind Paul t^o endorse his testimony. 
 Jacob, and Joseph, aiid Pavid^ anij " a great multitude that 
 no man can number" in heaven and earth re-echo the 
 joyous words. 1 A 
 
 Lastly, "Vye have our own experience. Which of us 'can 
 look hack without adoring wonder at the way in which God- 
 has made, the darlcness'lightv and the crooked things straight, 
 and the very curse a'blessing? Have not our greatest trials 
 been our greatest blessings ? In prosperity v(:e forget God, 
 and neglect the Bible, and forj^ake the closet ;.' but' afflic-' 
 tion haa come and saved uis from pi-ide, and worldliness, and 
 formality,' and madet us humble, and loving, and trusting. 
 It has brought us to God* ftiid given a new meaning to the 
 Bible, and a new talue to the throne of grace. Sureily we 
 cannot' look back without taking our harp and singing — 
 
 " When oil Tljy mercies, my God I 
 
 Jkly rising soul sijuveya, , ' 
 
 . Trftrisporteil with the view, I'm lost ^^ 
 
 ' In wonder, love, and liraise." ' ' '' 
 
 Let this word, then, be our companion as we go ,out into 
 the .coming year. Changes will come, sorrows may come, 
 but witli this word wje may iheet" them boldly, and say in 
 the darkest day, "We know that all things work 'together 
 for good to, them that love God." B - , " ' • '. 
 
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 ItELIGION BETTER THAN LTFi} 
 
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 " thy lovitig-kindness is bqttor thftn life.*'— P». IxUi., part of ver. 8. _ 
 
 THIS will^ be a startling- decliiratiou to raahy. Some- 
 tfiing bettei' ih&n life ! UiQ not the supreme good! 
 There ia thej man thlit earries on his business on the^ _ 
 Sabbath.^ I go to him, arid remonstrate with him. He 
 replies, r Y^u don't think I stay at business for the love ofc 
 the thing, do you ? I have enough of it in six days, with-'' 
 out wa,nting to be at it on the seventh. I should erijoy^^ 
 a drive into the country, or going*to church with , my \ 
 family,fs well as anybody; but you know a inan rnuM 
 live/' And so, on the plea that /•i/e is the supreme good, 
 he goe^ on breaking God's law, setting a bad example to 
 those around him, and risking eternal death. There is the - 
 nian who ' is engaged in a bad business. He knows it'^ a 
 bad ' business ; lie often sighs about it, wishfes he was out of 
 it, wishes^he had never been in it-;^ but finishes by saying, 
 "But you knpw a man must live ;" and so, on this sanie, 
 plea, he injures his fellows, offends God, and jeopardi^^iM ; 
 own soul. There i!b another man who i» iii a legitimate 
 business, but who does not conduct' it on Christian prin- .: 
 ciples. He will tell you to your face; tfiat if he attempted * 
 to act according to the teaching of the Biblei, he might as 
 well calf his creditors togethei, and make arrangements for' 
 going -to the wprkhouse forthwith ; and, he adds, " A ma|i 
 -'--- "-- — - , 1 prewhed at Wo eUy Temple.''" . ' ^ : ' • 
 
 
 

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 '^^EUGJON BEfTER ThM LIFE. 
 
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 " must live." ^ And 6^ he pursues a course thrat grieves Qod^ 
 brings darkness upon his soul, dishonours the Church, aiut 
 
 , makes it a very difficult thing for an honest man to make 
 a living. Now, t<J-the8«l||Siei), and they are representatives 
 of a large clo^s, how startling tlie declaration will be, that- 
 life is not the supr^ie good, tltt^there is something better^ 
 than life. If this be true, tj^sHinen, while priding them- 
 
 , selves rtn their woridlv wisdom, are egregious fopls ;' fools 
 who take the deyiFs bR|m1es» instead of the good gold of the" 
 kingdom ! Let us, tlien, carefully examine the mtftter, so 
 thjBit ' when testing-timc^s fome, we may arrive at a wiso 
 
 • decision. , • ; . ' 
 
 First, Tiook at the blesaliig of which David speakd — 
 " Thy loving-kindrtess." This is a favourite word^-with 
 
 •David-: he often nses it. Let us eafamine it. What does 
 it mean ? ' It must mean* something glorious, for we have 
 
 , tw6 of the most beai}tif\\l words in the language used to 
 
 . describe it ^'J, j^ove ;'*' that is beautiful, — so beautiful tliafc 
 God has chosen it for His own nnme; mor€ I cannot say. 
 'And " icindn^as/' that is beautiful ; it is the life of life> it 
 is the rainbovir that spans this vale of tears, and' it would 
 be a dreary valley if .it were gone. It is that, and that 
 •alon^«rt;hftt tmnsmutea a residence intb a' home ;-, for the • 
 -most "Splendid palace, , destitute of kindness, is only a- 
 txesidence : wnFle 'the siuallest cottage, full of kindness, .is 
 
 «»■ ^ ' "'• Little <U eds of killdncss, little words of love, ' > * " 
 
 , . 'y V / ' Mak^ tBia e^rtb a hvaven, like the heaven above.** ' 
 
 They may exist * apart, and t^ieh they are beautiful ; for 
 kindness is the body and love the squl ; kindness the hand, 
 
 ' love the heaft ; kindness .the outward and visible sign,, and 
 love the inward and spiritual grace. There' may be klod- 
 iiess where ^rcji^'no Jove, andJpve where there is no . 
 chance of showing kindness. They are the perfection of 
 
 - beauty when they are man^d, and tliey are married in the 
 
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 ">text It is hot kindness JMSt, nor is # merely Wve. It i» 
 " loving-lcindness." Y^s, beautaHiVapiTt, but the perfeqtion - 
 ' of beauty when they are married. Take an example ; 
 ■ Here's a young maii thk leaves his^ native villnge^.and goe» 
 " UP into the-'big town to Vork. Whi^e at work he meets with 
 an accident; and brui^d, and bloody, and uncfliisctous, 
 • they bear him Xo the h()flpital Here a stranger minister* 
 to him; the nurses fitep,W touch, and voice, ai-e strange; 
 - but, how tend«% 'she waichep over him. how anxiously she 
 uses every method that siggests itself to soothe hia pain 
 and restore his consciotisiless I Tliis attention is beyond^ 
 Dtice yet it is only kindne^ ; she liaidone it to hundred* 
 before 8he1>aw him, and sh^ will do it to huudieds more 
 when she lias forgotten that\ he was ever undeis her ^care. 
 ' But, see^ a telegram has gone to his mother. Shtf never 
 hesitates -she makes up Jierl^ltUe bundle, and bastens to 
 the station ; her bearrbtttfiicslhe swiftest engine ; ^he gets . 
 to the hospital, enters the watd wheFO her. boynis lym^,^ 
 They tell her that all attempts to restqte his consciouspfes»y 
 • have faihid • but by a# by. when the wet cloth ^^ bi^ . 
 foreheadhas to be changed, her l\attd changes it atid^^the.?. 
 is something in her touch that the trained band of^ieiiurSj 
 ' never had. He opens his eyes, and whispers, -Mothej:] 
 ^ She 8^s,"Yes; 1 am herein t<*>' 1»« s^iys^ [^^ }f[ 
 
 - better now I" to be sure, he is better nowr but yhat 
 has made him better? The nurse's: touch was tlie"toi|h ot 
 
 " kindness : the mother^s touch was the touch #"lovin^ind- 
 
 - "^88." and it brought the lad back to life and hopiTagaiiu 
 ' A mother's lovihg-kindriess is precious, all price ^y«nd; 
 
 but my text speak* of Divine loving-kindness, and what 
 must that be? Words ar« lost in its presence ; it is a 
 
 ^ vast, irnfathomable sea, where all our thoughts ate drowned. 
 
 But what does it mean? The answer is not far^t9,seek: 
 
 • it is the manifested presence, and friendship of Go^. it 
 
 .^means true religion, and is not the word most applicable T 
 
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 76 
 
 
 REUGlbN BETTER THAN LJFE. 
 
 1 
 
 Will Any other wonl describe it so well ? It containii both 
 th^hand and the heart, the body and the soul of relfgflon. 
 
 )r/did not love devise it, and does not kindness parry it 
 ouy? Is it not loving-kindness that brings the /Saviour , 
 to/the door of our heart, and keeps Ilim there amid insult 
 Aiid neglect ?„ Is it not loving-kindness that follows the 
 fijbul to the very mouth of hell, and pleads and^^triVesM 
 l^eep it back from ruin? And when, at last, the cry bums 
 llrom the heart, " What must I d6 to be saved ? 'Vis. ife^ot 
 loving-kindriess~thtrt- flies to his help ? Is it not loving-; 
 I'indness that kisses away his tears, and puts a rifew song in 
 Jiis mouth ? Is it nojb loving'kin^nessyihat brfifgs him into 
 the wardrobe, takes off the rotten rags, and puts on him 
 the garments of salvation ? Is it tiot loving-kindness that 
 leads him on his journey ; bringing him back when he 
 wanders, liftnig tWm upi wHen he falls, strengthening 
 him when he is^weak* cqmfortiiig him when he is sad, 
 quickening him \vhen he is faint, and, at last, lieading him . 
 through the valley of the shadow of death, brings him into 
 the home beyonrf, and cro\yris"j,iim;\i'tth glory, honour, and 
 ■eternal life ? IjTo wonder «that with this before him David 
 should say, " Thy loving-kindness is marvellous;" and the 
 man that knows tnost* about-^it will, marvel i^ost " Thy 
 loving-kindnep ! " May we all possess j^ audi enjoy it fot 
 ■ever! . ■%'■■:/: r y ' ■■ -v '■•.-•■.:-■.■ -'■'':.\': ■':'^j^-:^ -~ ■■/.;■ .' ■.'• 
 
 Second, Look a,t the estimate which David puts upon 
 this blessing. He says, " It is better thtJn life/' Mark 
 youf he does not tell us what it is worth. There; is a 
 clorions reason for this. There >a¥e-WQrds made io tell the 
 value of any palace on the land, or any vessel oil the sea; 
 but there are no worcls ma/de to descrijae the value of reli-> 
 gion. David takes the richest na^urafgift which we posse8S> 
 and saySj " It is better than tt^it ) " iS^eed I stop to reminH" . 
 you, tliat by common consent we agree that lif^ is our most 
 valuable natural possession ? 
 
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 A living dog is\ better than 
 
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REUGION DETTUR THAN LIPE, 
 
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 ■ft.deadlion> Look at tlie sinner, how willingly he sacri- 
 ficea weftlth, honour, pleasure, friends, to save his life. The 
 
 ■saint also puts life in the forefront. Here's a nuin who# 
 hatdly ever goes to his clasa-nioeting. If you speak to- 
 
 ,hinCte says that, of course, he should like to enjoy conx- y 
 tnunion with saints, but he -adds, " Business must be 
 attended to; ond if you dpn't atteiid to your business, ' 
 your business will not attend to you." And with.thi» 
 platitude he tries to satisfy you and his own feonscience. 
 But his health fails, the medical man is summoned, he 
 pronounces the case' to be serious; he «ay8, "You are 
 
 • over-worked-T-you must have rest." fThe man says, 
 "What do yo\i recomm«(nd ? " He replies, " Llandudno 
 for It mpnth; the South ^f Franco for three months; or . 
 3o^th Africa for six months." /He asks, "Will nothing 
 ^.else do ? " " Notliing ; do this and you may live ; neglect 
 this and S^ will die^." And this man, who could not leave ^ 
 his.businS^for an hour once a week, for all the blessings 
 of ChuT^ fellowship, will leave it for sijc months to ^ve 
 his life, So tliat, you see, I>avid chose our richest natural 
 gift with which to compare religion. It may be said, 
 " But was David an authority on this subject?" I 
 answer, ^V Yes ; . the highest human ?iutUprity that the 
 world ev^ had in it." - . r 
 
 First, He bad7t/fe; and when I spesflc of life I don't meau 
 mere" exisf enee. There is life dnd life. W, there is not, 
 what diithet young" man mean when he said to ^ his 
 mother, " A9 soop^ as I" am out of Njtny apprenticGship I 
 mean to go to London " ? 'And when his mother asked 
 him why he could not be contciit to remain where his. 
 fathfir. and ghmdfather had lived, he replied, ""I want to 
 • He did not mean he wanted to exist,-^he was 
 v'l\ere he waSj- — he meant there was life and life, 
 what I mean when I say David had Jife. ; 
 lad a splendid physical constitution ; he was 
 
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 78 \R£LJClQIf BETTER THAN LJM, * 
 
 •" niildy." He could iiieot the Hon, or the bear, or the 
 haughtyMMiilifltine. Ho could live in town -or country, on 
 the Hiouutain-top or in the lowly valh?y. His very lauKuaRe 
 convoys 0«o idea of phyaical 8treogt,h- H« talks ulwut 
 ^' running through a troop, and leaping over the wa|l." This * 
 is not, therefore, the language of some poor dyspeptic, who 
 groans out "Religion is better than life," hut that of a 
 robust, vigorous man, who could enjoy all t^e good thing* 
 the gopd earth yields, t^ -= ---^^ ^ 
 
 Second,^ he ha«l a magnificent Intellect. " Bfe was 'not 
 merely a splendid anin\al; he Was a splendid man. lie was 
 the poet of the ages. We have beet? s'.uging his songs ever 
 since ho wrote them, and vm shall go on singing them till, 
 the crack of doom, and, maybe, in heaven itself. Then he 
 was " the sweet singer of Israel." He could so touch his 
 harp as to chorm the evU' spirit from the morose and 
 
 haughty monarch. ' ■ ' ' - 
 
 Thirdjie had a warm and loving heart. J^o man lives 
 who has not this : your men whose lives are a platitude, 
 who' have no hills and no valley^s, who never w*pt because 
 some pB;e else was in trouble, nbr rejoiced because some one 
 ijise was glad, may bie said to exist, but they do not live. 
 David had a warm and loving heart. Look at his love for 
 Jonathan. It is tlie model love' of man for man. Then 
 look at his love for Ab>aloni. Listen to that heart- broken 
 cry that comes down the corridor of lime, and which has 
 wrun^J tears from the eyes of iniUions : " i\.bsalomj my 
 son Absalom ; wpuld God I had died for thee, njy son, my 
 \8ori!" The man that luttcred that cry had a warm and 
 
 iQving"^ heart. . ' ' / :: „ ,^ •> 
 
 Fourth, he had thg highest of earth's honours. He was 
 
 • the mighty and triuni phant warrior ; and he was the God- 
 appointed king of the most wonderful, people the world 
 
 ^ver had on it. Now look at him — with the poet's pen, 
 the musician's harp", the \yarrior's 's>yord, the monarch's 
 
 x: 
 
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 VI 
 
 N BETTER THAN LIEE, 
 
 crowni^^HpH^ man who »njoyed the wliole 
 ^^^^' 'fli^^HlVKt Hnys reli)^ioii ts bettor than tf 
 
 SccMc^^^HUr^ rfliijum. This Ih not the Iritiguage of 
 •onie theffllR; i^pcaking the more Htroiigly becanHO ho 
 
 ~kiu)W8 so little (ibout it. And it is not the language of 
 some young man in the joy of bis first love. It is the . 
 language of one who had religion and had enjoyed it long 
 — had enjoyed it in the sunshine, had enjoyed it in the 
 
 ^^torm, in t}>e palace amid the homage of his {)eo[)lo, and oil- 
 
 ,, tlie motintainSi, wbefe he was like a sparrow on the house- 
 top. Yes, and if I wanted a testin/ony as to the value of 
 religion, I would not receive the testimony of some young 
 man who has just obtained religion. I should say, " No, 
 brother, you have a treasure, but it is infinitely moro 
 valuable than you imagine." I would let the grey hairs 
 speak, and bid the rest be silent. And as the men stand 
 up to testify I should say, "We can't hear you 
 all ; let the one s{)eak who has hud the most trouble 
 ^ince he got religion." For, no man knows the value 
 of religion till he has been in* trouble ; as no man 
 Icnows the value of a** lamp till he has been in darkfle^s ; 
 and no man, knows the value of a lifeboat, till he has 
 been in a storm. Here, then^is the witness, and with a 
 brave heart he says, " lleligion is better than life." This 
 witness does not stand alone. The martyrs were of his 
 mind; they (iounted not their lives dear unto them, so that 
 they nJight win Christ. An ever'gi'pwing multitude endorse 
 David's declaration ; and the. number will increase till every 
 
 ' soul in heaven and hell shall unite to testify tliat " religion 
 is better than life." 
 
 Is this treasure ours- ? If not, why not ? It is provided 
 for u&, offered to us, pressed upon us. Why should we not 
 -receive it now ? The nail - printed* hand of Christ is 
 stretched out to us. ' Let. us grasp it, and live for ever. 
 
 > 'Do we possess it ? If so^ let us walk worthily. Lot ma 
 
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MtOKMBOrV msOlUTIOM TBT CHART 
 
 (ANSI ond ISO TEST GHARVNio. 2) 
 
 
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 t653 Eoit Main Strvat 
 Rochyrter. N«r York 14609 USA 
 (716) 4«2 - 0360 - Phon. • 
 
 (716) 2pi- 5989 -Fox 
 
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 So 
 
 REUGION BETTJdR THAN LIFE. 
 
 see to it, that oitr lives be one long, sweet song of- praisa 
 If God has given us the best, who sjiould we envyj. If He 
 has given us the best, why should we rauimMr? We may 
 not have a few things that we should like tp have, but we 
 have heaven within and heaven beyond. 
 
 " This world is ours, And worlds to come ; 
 V Earth is our lodge, and hieaven our home." 
 
 Let us then live up to our dignity, and by our lips and 
 lives show the reality of the blessings we enjoy. 
 
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 " Wben Thou saidat, Swk ye My face ; twy henrt said unto Tliec, Thy face^ 
 Lord, will I seek." — Ps. xxvii. 8. 
 
 THE question is often asked, How do men become tliev 
 sons of God ? Sometimes this question "is asked 
 sueeringly by those who do pot believ^jjti the possibility of 
 such a transformation. Sometimes it is asked earnestly, and 
 anxiously, by those who believe it possible that humanity . 
 may be so honoured, but who are. bewildered as to the way 
 in which that honour is to be obtained. They have said — ' 
 " We started together, and have gone shoulder to shoulder 
 for twenty, or, maybe, fifty years, and now there is a dilil^* 
 ence between us as wide as heaven and hell ! How^ ha^fthia 
 nnarvfellous chjtnge in you been effected ? " and I have 
 replied — " Don't ask* me, because I may be an impostor ; go 
 to some one of whose conversion it is impossible to doubt, 
 anctremember that when' you have obtained an answei" from 
 one child of God, you have iu substance received an afls^'er 
 from all." And so to-day I take you to David. Here thSJe . 
 can be ilo ' mistake, - We know that he was a sinnef by 
 nature, for he says he*was " conceived in sin and shapen in 
 iniquity." We know that he was a sinner by actual trans- 
 gression, for his hi§to>ry is stained with records of the vilest 
 iniquity; and we also know that he afterwards became a 
 man after God's own heartiand has been made the leader of 
 the Churches praise to the end of time. I ask you to listen 
 
 ^ Preached at the opening of the Baptist Chapel, Accrington. " 
 
 F ■ : . ,■ 
 
 ;5 
 
 '/liS 
 
 >i^:. 
 
8» 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CALL. 
 
 -. • ■> 
 
 to his own account of the way in winch the great cliange 
 was effected. It is brief, but full— so full that' we may 
 l^n from it the way of salvation. He says^"When 
 TKou saidst, Seek ye My face ; my heart said, Thy face, I^rd, 
 will I seek." That is, God spoke, aud I heard Hin>. God 
 called me, and I came to Him. God held out His arms, 
 and* I ran into them. "Why," many of you are saying, 
 '"thiris just my experience." I know it is: I care not 
 whether you are a Methodist, a Baptist, a Churchman, 
 a Protestanti or a Catholic; if you are a child of God, 
 my text is your spiritiftil history. God's family is. one,^ 
 though we are called by many names, and when it cOpties*' 
 to matters of experience our unity is at -once made manifest. 
 . Tlie text naturally divides itself into two parts. We have 
 first, (?oii's address to man ;&etom\\y, Man's reply to God. 
 
 First, we have God's address to man— " Thon said«t; Seekl 
 
 ye My face,'' Here we have the oriyin of all true religionJ 
 
 It begins with God. It was so at tlie outset. All win 
 
 know anything about quarVels among nieti, know |hat, as 
 
 rule, the offended paity is generally the first to seek |*recon- 
 
 ciliiition, and it may well be so, for when a nian knows he is 
 
 in the right he can afford to be, generous— to "li'old out his 
 
 hand, and say as Abraham did to Lot^" Let there be no 
 
 •quarrel between thy herdsmen and mine." But whether this 
 
 be true of the quarrels among men, or not, it is gloriously 
 
 true of the great quarrel between God and man. Man 
 
 sinned, and God was angry with man. Did He, however, 
 
 wait for man to draAV near to Him with a broken and con- 
 
 trite heart, and ask for pardon ? Did He wait for. man to 
 
 come and confess his ingratitude and sinfulness ? We know 
 
 He did nt.t. We know that if He had, our reconciliatidn 
 
 would never have taken place, but the whole family of man 
 
 would have moved on in one dark blaspheining procession 
 
 to perdition. God kMiew this,— knew it well,— and" because' 
 
 He delighteth in mercy " He spoke first, ^ 
 
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 THE ACCEPTED CALL. 
 
 83 
 
 ./. 
 
 And has it struck- you how soon He spoke ? Bid Ho 
 wait till man had learnt by year§ of. bitter experience the 
 sinfulness of his sin? , ^o, He did not. Blessed be His 
 name I the first day of man's sin, was the first day of God's 
 revelation of mercy ! He who has omYnanded us not toilet 
 the sun go down upon our wrath acted tipon His own 
 command, and, before the end of the first day of man's 
 transgression, He went to him^ and while sliowing hint his 
 sinfulness and its sad results, proclaimed to him the glorious 
 news of salvation. Thus G06 spoke first to our race. "Tlie 
 way of peace" is not an invenliou of man, but a revelq,tioa ^ 
 
 from heaven. ; \'''l 
 
 God also speaks first to every individuaL I hear inanyy' 
 people pray as |f' man w*s ready to be reconciled, anJiiSqitt/ 
 was not. This is an iumiense and God-dishonouring err^. 
 Does he not say, " T stand at the door .and knock " ? Does 
 He notdeplare that He lias been thei^'^ill IJis locks are wet 
 ', with the dew of the morning ? * ke irevef ready to receive 
 us; and the moment the sinner draws back the bars and 
 bolts which have kept the door shut in His face, "the King 
 of Glory will come in." Yes— 
 
 *' He now stands knocking at the door 
 O^every sinner's heart ; 
 The worst tieetl keep Him out no more^ 
 Nor force Him to depart." ' 
 
 Do I hear some one saying, " But does God really speak to 
 man ? Can there b'6 this direct intercourse between Him 
 and us ? " I answer, " Yes, He can and does." Cannot we 
 speak to our children ? Cannot the sheep on the hillside 
 speak to their little leaping lambs. jDannot the parent bird 
 speak t6 her little open-mouthed young ones ? And is God 
 the only dumb parent in the universe ? He that made the 
 tongue, can He not speak ? He does speak all daylong. 
 He speaks sometimes in tones of thunder, which are like the 
 beginning of hell to the guilty soul, and sometimes in tones 
 
 /'■• 
 
 :.-*' 
 
84 
 
 7 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CALL. 
 
 /. 
 
 6oft as a mother's blessing, which fill the eyes with tears we 
 know not how. 
 
 Do I hear some one saying, " But I have never heard 
 Him"? Perhaps not; that, however, may not be l)ecause 
 He has not spoken. ,, ./ 
 
 I sliall never forget my first vifrtt to a wboHen mill. The 
 noise of the machinery stunned and bewildered me. The' 
 Qwncr of the mill explained the various processes as weVvent 
 on.N^ut it was a dumb show to me — -I heard nothing. Sup- 
 pose when 'I came out I had been asked whether the gentle- 
 man spoke to me during my visit, and I had replied " No," 
 would it have been trtie ? Certainly not; he spoke, but I 
 did not hear. His voice was drowned in the surrounding 
 uoise. A^id so it is with tlionsands of those around us. 
 God speaks to them, but His voice i^ drowned in the hubbub 
 which they are surrounded. They are awakened in the 
 mohiing by the postman's knock, aiid betore they have time 
 for a thought about God or eternity, tlie noise of their own 
 mill is all^^round them ; before the letters are finished the 
 morning pap^arrives, and the roar of the world is added to 
 the sound whichxfllready existed,; a short prayer is uttered, 
 a hasty meal swMlowed, and henceforth it is whirl and I 
 excitement till the evening; .they return home worn out 
 and weary, by the, aid of stimulants they are able to spend 
 an isveningof worldly pleaisui^and then a short psalm, a,nd 
 a shorter prayer is read, and theysfetire to a troubled rest 
 to be awakened again by the posnuan's knock, and to go 
 through the saine distracting round, ^il^is is the history 
 year in and year out of tbtousands aroiindlra— -and how can 
 God's vpice ever be heiar^ in this whirl? Tnbre will, how- 
 ever, come an end to this. When I was in thaKmill the 
 dinner hour cam6, and instantly the machinery stoppfe4. and 
 out of the, silence came a hundred voices that had btjen 
 speaking before, but had been drowned in the noise. Am 
 so it will be with us. This life is not to go on for ever. 
 
 \ 
 
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 I'.' 
 
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 .^m" 
 
 Iv. 
 
 Tff£ ACCEPTED CAIL. 
 
 85 
 
 There* will come a inorning when other luiiMlH will open the 
 lettt3as, when the nevvsiimii will be told that the. paper is 
 needed n^o more, When there will be sorrow and silence in the 
 now biisyljonie. The noise of time will be tinheaid : there 
 will be the silent e of eternity, aiid, if we neglect the offer of 
 mercy, out of that silence will come a Jvoice l6uder thnn 
 thunder, which will say, " Because I liave called, and ye 
 refused; because I have stretched forth My hands, and you 
 would have none of My reproof, I \* ill laugh at your calamity, 
 I will mock when your fear cometh." 
 
 ■The Jext also shows us the nature ol religion. When 
 God sp&cs to man, what does He say? The text says, 
 " Sedfe ye my face." Do you ask, What does this mean? 
 It itieans just this, ";Con>e to Me." This is what God says 
 to every man, not just " Come to My House, or My Book, 
 or, My Servant," but " Come to Mc" When God says this, 
 do not the words imply that we are at a distance from Hinj ? 
 Some one may say. But how can this be ? Do we not 
 live and move in God? How then can we be far from 
 Him ? How ? Suppose you meet an old friend, and at once 
 go up to him to express your pleasure at the meeting, and 
 he receives you coldly, and passes 'n,> would you not say you 
 met so and so, and he was so distant— -you met him^and yet 
 he was distant I What do you mean by that ? You meiin 
 that your bodies met, but that there was no union of heart, 
 and that is whao God means when He speaks to us. He 
 says we draw near to Him with our lips, but our hearts are 
 far from ttiml. Now it is the heart that God wants, and to 
 offer Him any substitute is an insult. . \ 
 
 But does not God teach us further by this passage that 
 though we a^"e afar off we need not stay there ? When He 
 '^says, " Come to Me," does not that imply that there is a 
 possibility of our coming ? If there were no such possi- 
 bility the iirvitation would -be. a mockery. I know that 
 when Adam was driven out dr Paradft the fiery sword was 
 
 I 
 
86 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CALL, 
 
 
 placed there to prevent his Teturn. But there is a heaii|pful 
 passage in .the ninth chapter iu the Epistle to the Hebrews 
 which says, "He hath put away sin by the sacrilico of 
 Himself." There is a World of comfort for the trenililing 
 heart in this. But what does it mean ? It is clear that it 
 does not mean that He has put away sin as a fai^t, for it 
 meets us everywhere. Nor does it mean that He has put 
 it away as a thing to be punished. Many of you leel 
 something of its punishment even now. JJoes it not mean 
 that it is put away as the legal obstacle to man's salvation ? 
 Yes, thank G(5d, it does. There is no fiery sword now to 
 keep us back from God. That sword was qnenched, and 
 instead of the sword Of vengeance, the sceptre of liiercy is 
 held out to the trembling penitent, that he may tpuch it 
 and live for ever. True religion then is notjorm, or cere- 
 mony, or creed, or anything of that sort ; it is something 
 infinitely higher— it is the heart coming back to God. 
 
 Everything else instead of this, is a holiow mockery — a 
 refuge of lies. This then is religion — the Ireart comiiig 
 back to God.- Tliat is the first part of* the subject, and 
 before I go any further I stop to ask whether you can go 
 so far. I beseech you. do not shirk the question. Has your 
 heart come back to God ? It is a matter between you and 
 Him : His heart has come back to you ; but has your heart 
 come back to Him ? Canyon 
 
 *' Say by prace restoicd' 
 », Kow Thp^ knowest I love Tliee, Lftrd"! 
 
 If you can, all is well ; for you "to live is Christ, and to 
 die will be gain ;" but if not^ and yoMf remain as you are, 
 you!S»4U be miserable in tiine, and lost in eternity. 
 
 Secondly, we have man's reply to God. God said to 
 David, " Seek ye, My face," and the reply of the Psalmist 
 was, "Thy face, Lord, will / seek." The answer was 
 therefore personal. There is great danger in this age of. 
 companies of our losing ourselves in the firm of humanity. 
 
 i 
 
 • V 
 
■i 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CALL. 
 
 87 
 
 . v 
 
 put ouF Spiritual aflairs nuist all be done individually : 
 •we luive in this sense to live ulon<s us wo shall have to 
 die alone, an«l to stand uloiio before the jiidj^nuMit-seat. . 
 You find out man's isolation when you stand, as most of »>».,, 
 have stood, in thcjfricmn death-diainber. Ilow lonely the 
 soul seems then ! You ieineud)er v^rhen you stood in that 
 (luict bedroom, and saw the father, or mother, or wife, or 
 Uusbimd, or child (oout alone. You could but watch and 
 weep; your heart was breaking, an<l ytrtfcjnn'^ed to go with 
 tbeni; but your loved ones went out altfne to meet their -. 
 God. You and J shall have tx» die soon. There will Im^ 
 weeping eyes, and anxious, broken hearts ; but we shall die 
 'alone— one last lingering look, and then we shall go ahme 
 'ii>\'i ,tM tremendous realities of eternity. Just so must we 
 learn t<h Il\ie aUme. God speaks to each as thoui:h theje 
 ^^cre.no olther being in the universe, and says, "Come to 
 Mb." And each of us sliould answer as if there were^jE 
 other, " liy Thy griice I will arise and' come." ^^¥, 
 
 The aiYiJ'wer of David was not only personal, it was 
 prompt. When Thou saidst. "Thete was no talk abcmt to- 
 morrow or next day. The devirs poliijy is to cheat us out 
 of the present. ,His suggestion is, any lime but the pre- 
 sent for a good deed ; no time but the i)reseut for a bad 
 one. He never talks to you of putting off sin, but he often 
 talks, of putting off prayers and conversion. He never 
 speaks to you about sinning to-morrow. No ; sin to-night, 
 and repent to-morrow;, that is the devil's policy; David 
 knew this, and when the Lord said, "Seek ye My face," the 
 decision was at once made, " Thy face, Lord, will I seek." 
 And so it should be \vith each of us. Pi-bcrastination is 
 full of danger. Kvevy timewe reject the offer of mercy we 
 increase the probability that we shall never accept it. I 
 was staying one niglitwith an oUl gentl man, and when the 
 company, was gone, and we were alone, I o.iid, • Are you 
 on the road to heaven, sir ? " With a quivering lip he 
 
88 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CALL. 
 
 . said, " No. T^ fear I am not." I m\K\ " Why, that In a 
 very terrible thing. You have been connected with the 
 Church for many years ? " " All my life," said he, " my 
 hoiJso has been the preacher's homo for more than thirty 
 years, and none have been more weTcome." I said, " It is 
 a terrible thinj,' to love the servants, and not to love the 
 Master." " That has just been my case," was the reply. I ' 
 said, " Ikt has not 4he Holy Spirit striven with you ? " 
 " Oh, it is not God's ^ult that I am as I am," was the 
 
 A ansvver ; " it is all n^v own ; I recollect well, when an 
 apprentice, the Spirit strove with me, and I put Him off 
 till I WHS out of my apprenticeship. When that time 
 came. He sti-ove with me again, but I determined to wait 
 until I should be my own master. When I entered into 
 business I was again troubled about my soul, but then came 
 the thought — I have so much to think about now ; when I 
 have made a fortune I will retire from business, and the 
 rest of my days I will live for God." I said, " Well, you 
 Imve made a fortune, and have retired ; how is it with you 
 now ? " And the tears ran down his cheeks as he replied, 
 "It il( harder work now than ever." I would ask, i^ not 
 that the history of many whom you. have known ? They 
 never intended to go to hell ; they always intended to do 
 better, but nil the time they permitted difficulties to increase, 
 until now, with grey hairs upon their heads, they are 
 standing on the brink of perdition. 
 
 David was prouipt in his decision. "When Thou saidst> 
 Seek ye My face ; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face. Lord, 
 will J seek." Oh, follow his iBxample I Now is the day 'of 
 salvation. Now heaven's gates are open ; now the Gospel 
 message is proclaimed ; now the High Priest is pleading ; 
 now the Spirit is strivrag ; now the Church is working ; 
 " all things are now ready ; " it is God's time. To-morrow 
 tlie sceptre may be turned into a sword ; to-morrow the 
 dooMnay be shut; to-morrow your doom may be sealed; 
 
 \ 
 
 4 . 
 
 ^^ 
 
 \ 
 
. ■>• r 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CALL, 
 
 \ 
 
 I '. .>^' 
 
 i 
 
 tomorrow iiifitund of an open Iioavcn tliero may l)e 
 }uwiiin;r hull, l^t tlieru Ih) no talk of to-munow, luit 8uy 
 to-duy, " 1 will ariao and ^'o to my Father." 
 
 Then tlie answer of David was al^o decided : " Thy 
 face, Lord, will I seek." Many^^^fieoplo are content with 
 thinking abont religion. I know (lit'rsons who have been 
 talking about religion for the last twenty year.s, but who 
 have not got a step farther yet. They have always be»'n 
 tiiinking about joining themselves to God's people, and the 
 devil has been laughing at them all the time. We must 
 act as well as think. Thinking about heaven will never 
 take a man tljero. "When Tliou saidst, Seek ye My face; 
 my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." — " I 
 will do it." And there is no preemption in that decision. 
 It is not presumption to say "I will," if God Calls me. 
 There is nothing pharisaical in that. If God calls mo Ho 
 «loes "'*tvith the word the power convey," and though the 
 devil, and the world, and th&^esh-iQro strong, God is 
 stronger. He i^h^how in our|pi|r8t waitiug to help you. 
 Ldpk up and sfty, ".Lqrd, I will-— happy or miserable-- 
 whetheir men bless or curse- — whether it takes mo id a , 
 palace or a workhouse, I make no conditions, I will seek^ 
 Thy face." You will have to do it, if you are ever to get to 
 Ueaven, Don't try to make any bargain with God, but say, 
 
 "Just^ as Inm, nnd waiting not 
 Td rill my soul from one dark blot, '' .■ r'.': . 
 
 To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, 
 O, Lamb ot' God, I come. " 
 
 
 "I will sdek Thy face." 
 
 Again, tliis tB^swer was-txpHcit It was, indeed, what one 
 of our hytnrts calls an echo of what God had said before. 
 God said, f Seek ye My face ; "the heart says, "Thy fuee, 
 Loird, will J seek "—that is, I mean just what God means, 
 and "it do not mean anything else. People go to churches 
 and chapclii, and all the while remain unconverted because 
 
 \. 
 
■'♦tC 
 
 9« 
 
 TUB ACCEPTED CALL, 
 
 thoy moan nornotluiis (liffment from Ood. , Tlipy hi<lo in a 
 refuge of lic8 , tlu-y want to compound with (.Jod. Ho wdl 
 never n^rco to that ; if you arc t'ver to ho 8av«!d you will 
 have to he saved in (iod's way, and on (lod's toims. David 
 BfiyH, "Thy face, LonI, will I 8t'ck"-r~I mean what (Jotl 
 means. If you hud (hmo tho sumo you wouhl have fnund 
 peace Ion},' ago. Hut you have nnt. God has Haid, " Como 
 to iMu," und you have heard and have been tronhhul, antl 
 have wiid, " I will turnover a new leal." (Jod has Haid, 
 " Come to Me," and you have Haid, " I will sign the ph-djie." 
 G(m1 has said, " Come to Me," and you have foid, " 1 will 
 take a seat at chapel." (Jo(l has said, "Come to Me," and 
 you have Haid, " I will meet in elass." G.xl has Hai<l, 
 " Come to Mo," and you have said, " I will receive the Lord's ' 
 Supper." Ihit do you not s^tt thiit all these may be refuges 
 of lies ? It is all very well to turn over a new leaf — the 
 old one is blurred and blotted enoujih, (JcmI knows! It is 
 all right to sign the pledge. It is all right to lake u seat 
 in chapel, to meet in class, and to kneel at the sacramental 
 table; but it is all wrong if put as tv substitute for coming 
 to Cod. These thou ^louhlst have done, and not have left 
 the other uinione. If you have turned oyer a new leaf, 
 God help you to keep it turned over ; if you have signed 
 the pledge, may He help you to be faithful; if you have 
 taken a seat in the house of God, niuy He give you giiice 
 often, nay, always to be there; if you have decided to }|o 
 .to class, may it prove a blessing to your so\d ; if you come 
 to the Lord's table, ihay yoft always meet the Lord there. 
 But when you have done all these things you must 
 rememlier that they are no substitute for your coming to 
 God. I was going rOund a i hapel one night dunng a 
 prayer-meeting, and meeting with a lady who was in nruch 
 distress, I said, " My sister, are you not sav«d ? " She 
 Baid, "No, sir; I have been a mendjer of a church for 
 
 % 
 
 
 yeara, but not a member of Christ's mystical body. — I liav o 
 
 / 
 
♦ift' 
 
 t ■"/ ' 
 
 H 
 
 THE ACCEPTED CAIL 
 
 91 
 
 " 
 
 not hcon convertc<l ; 1 liftvo not enjoyed tho furKivwnoM of 
 uiiiM." " It JH tt Had tliJiiK," I Hiiid, " to lie bu long coniifctetl 
 with tlio Church lUiU not to hjivo onioyed thu Hunshino of 
 God's sniiU)." Slio 8ftid, " II is, and I wmnot rest without 
 it." Now I do not liko puttin}^ a test upoai ()vo|>lo which 
 in not diri'ctly taught in tho Bildo ; but I know this lady 
 WM8 of a proud dJHposition, and I Hald, " Aro you willing to 
 go up an«i kneul With tlio»« pcrsouH at tho conunftniun vviiu 
 'are Hcekiiig nittrcy?" Tliero was u moment's hositancy, 
 ^and then, lifting up horlaqo, which was palo with excito- 
 ment, she said, " I am willing to do anything if I may but 
 iiitd mercy." She went aiul throw herself upon her knetw, 
 and within five minutes I saw hor raise her face— bright 
 almost as an angel's; 1 went to her, and she excUiinied,. 
 "I am saved, I am savctd. Oh, blessed be (iod, my sins 
 which were many are all forgiven !" Brother, sister, it shall 
 be BO with thee if thou wilt thus comu to Christ to-- 
 night. * 
 
 Lastly, the answer came from the right i)lace. " When 
 Thou saidst, Seek ye My face;" my lipni — no, no, the Tips 
 are too often liars, but the heart never is—" my heart saitl 
 unto Thee, Thy face, Loitl, will I seek." David did not 
 stand uf) and say, " I will arise and go to my Father, " while 
 his heart was alienated ami his lite in rebellion. The lijis, 
 perhaps, were silent, but the heart responded, Yea. lieJigion 
 
 is heart- work. * ,- '■-*■' 
 
 '■-■.*■■■■>■,■ 
 
 " Words may come forth with eloquence » 
 
 And claim the wmltl's Ii|ipluUHt>, ' — 
 
 Which yet may never rise I'loni thence 
 
 To the sHy that o'ei* us glo>VH. 
 But word, or look, or thought, which from the honrt (loth rise, 
 ■ Like incense up to hcuvcu shall float, a wulcome saciifiue." 
 
 "What the heart>8ays God always hears. It is said of a 
 
 Greek musician that his touch was so delicate and his ear so 
 
 qnic-k that, he would often play a tune on his harp which 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^'. 
 
VW-lJJlflll; : 
 
 9» 
 
 THU ACCEPTED CALL, 
 
 ''^' 
 
 only his own qnick ear couM cntch. Whether fact or fuhle, 
 titis an'orda a iMriyitil'nl ilhiHtrution of (Ind's intercourfMi with 
 man's huiul. When G(k1 8|M>ak8 to tho heart IIu always 
 gi'ts a reply. You hvar me to^ni^^lit, but I shall not know, 
 perhaps, until the day of jmi^nient^what have lieun the 
 results of this service ; but when God conies Hu always fjets 
 an answer. God is coining to you, and is saying, " Give 
 Me thy heart." Oh, miike thy heart stop to linten to Him I 
 Goil says, " Come to Me." That is not hard, is it ? Yet do 
 it, if it be hard. I^t your heart reply and .God will hoar. 
 He is listening — His ear is at your heart at this moment. 
 Perhaps there is some young man here who is saying, " I 
 will come to God. I have often thought about it, but I 
 Hvill do it, by the help of the Holy Spirit." H' sb, lie hears, 
 and will help. I M'as sitting one night with a farmer who 
 said to me, " I was very happy and very miserable last 
 night." " That is very strange," I answered. *' I was," he 
 said. " When one after another went up to seek for mercy, 
 my heart danced for joy ; but when 1 thought of my own 
 children, not one of whom is yet converted, I felt as if my 
 heart would break, I thought everybody's children were 
 being saved but mine." Gne of his daughters,^ who was 
 marrie^l to a neighbouring farmer, was present, and, turning 
 towards him with a face beaming with happiness, she said, 
 ■' Then you did not know what njy heart said, for last night 
 I made up my n»ind that your people should be my people/ 
 and your God my God." Ah, there was a father sitting in 
 that square pew afid saying, '' I have laboured in vain, and 
 8i>ent my strength for nought;" and there was the great 
 Father up yonder saying, "Bring out the best robe, and i)ut 
 it upon her, and let us rejoice and be glad." '^'^-J)ere is that 
 father saying to-oight, "Oh, if my son were but^aavtd I " Yes, 
 youiig^iuan; and the best news you could send home would 
 be that you had given your heart to God. In the name of 
 your mother— in the name of your father- — in the name of 
 
 \ 
 
 a'X^ 
 
 '}» 
 
♦l,of fViio wQc Q i^rnnf nf liig InvA Vmh wft filiniilfl remain iiisfc. 
 
 7-//^ ACCEPTED CALL. 
 
 93 
 
 t; 
 
 - 
 
 tJioMe who have gone to henven, mid wlio are porhnm even 
 now iHiiulin^ over you, I pray you to Im) rvuonciled to GimI. 
 " Th« Spirit nnd tho hrido «ay, Couje." 
 
 And will you notK(|cc«pt the invitation ? Chrint, who 
 hou<:;ht you with His own bUnxl, askH you to corno t«) Ilini. 
 Ho wiys to you, " Give me thino heart." ' May onch of you 
 do so this night. I pat tho qui>8t^i|i tho other day in a 
 villaj^ti service, " Who is there heni Cmft will give his heart 
 to. God?" And a little girl, with a voice trembling with 
 emotion, said, " Please, sir, I will." I do not ask you 
 to respond in a similar way, though I slwulcl fiot he sorry to 
 hear such an answer. Hut let the word be spoken by the 
 heart — let God hear it — '* I will." He that seeketh findoth, 
 'iiml to him that knocketh the door shall be opened. 
 " W^ioHoever will, let him come, and take of tho watt-r of 
 life freely." God has never said to tho seed of Jacob, Seek, 
 ye Me in vain. There are no hearts too dark, too html, too 
 foul, too guilty to be saved. Ami now, biothei', standing 
 between thee and hell, I ask thee, wilt thou be reconciled to 
 Ciod ? Oh, by that life of sorrow which Ho lived, by that 
 «leath of agony which He endured for thee, I beseech thee, 
 decide to-night ! We sliall never all meet again on earth. 
 I look around upon your faces, and I shall riot see many of 
 them again till we meet before the judgment bar. There 
 will be no opportunity for me to offer piercy to you then, but 
 1 do offer it to you now — full, tVeij, present niercy. Yon 
 
 " Mny now be uVcd, whoever will, 
 This Man receiveth siuiiers atill." 
 
 To-night God calls you to Himself. Oh that every soul in 
 this congre^utiou may say> " Thy face, Lord, will I seek " J 
 
 '# 
 
 
 rj 
 
 \ 
 
»v. aiou tiJOULnir. nr rim 
 
 vriT. 
 
 TUE TintONE OF GRACE, 
 
 " L«<t Its tlicreforn roiiie liohlly unto tho tbrona of grace, that w« may 
 oibtaiu Diurcy, i«ti«l tlhd grue« to help in time of nted."— Hkb. iv. Id. 
 
 I WAS struck by a rt'umik mnde one diiy by a poor but 
 intellij^cnt Chrisitiun. Speaking of Paul's writings, 
 he said, " There is much in them that I don't understnnd. 
 \ often feel perplexed to know what he means; but when- 
 ever I come to a ' therefore ' I always get a blessing.'* 
 There is a great denl of force in this remark. Paul's 
 reasoning is abstruse. His argument seems, like some 
 rivers, to disappear lor a time, and then to reappear at 
 a considerable distance : but if we follow him to his con- 
 elusions, we are abundantly repaid for our pains. To- 
 ' night we are not cal||d to follow out Paul's argument, but 
 only to look at his conclusion ; and I trust that it will be 
 80 opened by tile Holy Spirit as to, prove "a sovereign 
 balm for every wound, and a cordial for our fear." 
 
 1. Look at the place of which the apostle speaks — 
 "The throne of grace." A throne ip the seat on which a 
 monarch sits in his official capacity, and the throne spoken 
 of in the text is that of the King of kings. The decree 
 has gone forth that all of us must meet God. The Bible 
 declares that every one of us must give an account of him- 
 self to God. So, then, ready or not ready, prepared or not 
 prepared, each of us must somewhere stand face to face 
 
 -O' 
 
navH mn. r.iHar iim.Hiiis tir 
 
 qi[tM».«K'.)iirmi]aniiiBr/^ 
 
 ■ villi will navHi- 
 
 T/fE THRONE OF GRACE, 
 
 95 
 
 with our Mrtkor. Tlio only quoation fdr us to Q«k is, 
 When f I know there are other thrones s|)okon of in the 
 Bible, OS the throne of KU)ry, and the throne of ju<l;,'nit'nt. 
 Hut can we gnilty rehcln hope to meet a holy Go»l on 
 eilher of those, antl liviJ ? Certainly not. Can wo meet 
 Him on the j^reat white throne. on which He will sit l»y 
 and by to judj,'e the woihl ? No ; for sinners shall not 
 siHiid in the jnd«?ment ; and unpirdoiiod sinners will then 
 utter the wild cry, " Rocks, full on u-s ; mountains, hide us 
 from the face of the Judj^e." Can wo as sinners hope tOx 
 see Him on |,he throne of {^lory in the kingilom alcove ? 
 Alas, no ! for nothing unholy or unclean can enter there. 
 Wliat, then, must we do? and whither shall wo fly? If 
 there is- not some other meeting-pliioe, it had been gocnl 
 for us that wo had never b'eeiv bmn. Thank God! my 
 text tells us there is another pliice — a throne^ of gnicu -a 
 throne erected on purpose to be a meetingphice betwot-n a 
 holy Gud, juid a world of guilty sinners — and meet us 
 without destroying ua This is the place of which the 
 text speaks. 
 
 «n» 
 
 II. Look at the bjessmgs to be obtained at that place. 
 What are they ? The text says^ "mercy" and "grace." 
 The two most precious 4'ords that can meet a sinner's , «ye 
 or full on a sinner's eat, and yet how they are undervalued! 
 ?I don't besitote to say that if anything else we prize was 
 to be obtained on the sftirie Condition, there would be a 
 long and earnest prayer-meeting to-night ; and many who 
 are strangers to prayer would at once begin. Suppose, 
 for instance, that we could have wealth, or health, or 
 honour, or learning, for asking, oh what earnest supplica- 
 tions would be offered' up 1 And yet the blessings spoken 
 of are as much superior to these things as the soul is 
 superior to the body or eternity to time. We set a 'high 
 estimate upon gold, «nd honour, and learning, and yet 
 
 % 
 
 
 m 
 
 •n 
 
rt 
 
 96 THE THRONE OF GRACE. 
 
 M 
 
 every now nnd then wo see tbfir trno value. . If yon want 
 M proof, gi> to-nij^bt to poor Elliott, who liufi in your own 
 city umler sentence of death. Kntor his cell, nnd tell him 
 you have hrouj^ht him g(K>d news. How ea;;erly he turns 
 to you and asks, " What ? " You reply, " Huron Itoths- 
 child is dend, and hns left you heir to all his vast wmlth." 
 Oh, with what disappointment ho turns away I You tell 
 him that in oddition to this you are come to give him the 
 highest of earth's honours. Ho heeds you not. He says, 
 " WtHU> is ull this to mo, when I have to die on Thurs- 
 day?; You s/iy, "Man, do you turn a\*ay froiu houndless 
 wealth, from brond acres, from glittering geniH an«l jewels ? 
 What do you want ? " And with eager, bloodshot eyes, ho 
 turns to you, and hisses from his clenched teeth, " Pardon ! 
 Give me that, and I'll bless you ; withmit that, all the rest 
 is but mockery." And so it should be with us. We are 
 aH condemned sinners. Any moment the sentence may be 
 executed. Hence, when a sinner's'eyes are opened, he 
 turns away from all this short-enduring world can give, 
 and cries- — 
 
 ' V . *' NothiiiK I ftsk or wnnt beside, ..«^» 
 
 or all irf i-artli or heaven ; V , 
 
 But let me foel Thy Mood a|i|>lie<T, ' ^ 
 
 And Hvo and die forgl veil." * 
 
 And when he feels that he is forgiven, no wonder if he 
 goes wild for joy. The other day, when a reprieve was 
 borne to a condemned nian, he tainted for joy, and who 
 could wonder ? And yet when we get pardon from the 
 King of kings, men tell us to be calm, Hti(|) condemn excite- 
 ■ ment. Why, if a man isn't excited then, when will he be ? 
 Angels must wonder thot we are not wild with joy. 
 
 Well, then, there is pardon at the throne, for mercy is 
 
 only another. word for pardon. But that is not all; and, 
 
 thank God !^it is not all. The text siays there is "Grace 
 
 to help " lis. Well, what a mercy this is ! If there were 
 
 . - ■ * ■■ 
 
 
THE THRONB OF GRACE, 
 
 91 
 
 only pardon, tlion havfhg obtained that, I would ask nc 
 onco to b« taken to hoavtin. But, thank Ood ! our cma is 
 fully mot Tiiere is " grace to help." Wo shall all flntl that 
 after we are pardoned there is a groat work to be done, 
 and a groat Ijattlo to be fought. Tlio past is forgiven ; but 
 now you are to be " made meet for the inheritance of the 
 saints in lij^ht," and tlio war will soon begin. Wo have 
 formed bad habits, and. " our nature every moment waits 
 to make our ruin sure." All this has to be remedied. The 
 bad habits have to be given up ; the defects in our 
 character remedied. Bad tempers have to give place to 
 good tempers • irritability to patience ; covotousnoss to 
 generosity ; anti oh, it is hard work, but grace can enablo 
 us to do it I Courage, my brother, there is " grace to help 
 in every time of need ;" but remember, you must ask for 
 it. It hasrto be " obtained." Many try to overcome without 
 grace, or they forget that grace is to be had for asking, and 
 hence they fail miserably. Brother, to thy knees. Thou 
 must be a co-worker with God. Thou canst not do His 
 work. Ho will not do thine. Find 'out the weak place, 
 the besetting sin, and give God no rest till it is overcome. 
 We should carry our weaknesses to God, and ask for what 
 we need, and we shall soon feel the advantage. God 
 will make us good -tempered, and patient, and generous, 
 if we ask Him. Depend, upon it, there is* no enemy in 
 thy heart He cannot subdue and expel. There are n)any 
 living witnesses of this in the congregation. Yes, " all, all 
 we want is here!" Grace to enable us to work, to suffer, to 
 fight, to live, or to die. Every time of need 1 These are 
 the blessings to be obtained at the throne 1 
 
 for whom 
 says, Let 
 
 III. Let us inquire 
 provided. The apostle 
 most important that we should 
 in this' " us," Is it an apostolic 
 
 o 
 
 these blessings are 
 "us" come. It is 
 know who are included 
 us"? If 80, we are not 
 
 '.'*. '. ,M^^mM^.^\ 
 
1% 
 
 THE THRONE OF GRACE, 
 
 int«re«te<l. liS^ a Jewtnh " us " ? If ao, w« •« excluded. 
 Tlmnk (Jod ! thiit N^lso it cl«nrly rovoaled. Wo have luit 
 
 ' to be guidtid by tli^^onl of God, and w« ahall find thit 
 tho " ui." ia a« wide aaimnianity. 
 
 If you fotik at tho phi^uding verso, you will see that 
 Paul it roferriijg to the priesthood of Christ. He says : 
 "Seeing that we have a grout High Priest thnt is passed 
 into the lieavuns : let us therf^j[t come boldly to the' 
 throne." So that the " us " of ou^^xt is just as brond 
 as the " wo " in the fifteenth verse. D«i we ask how broad 
 that is ? We sluill soon «eo. Tho refere^e here evidently 
 is to tho great day of atonement, when tUe high priest 
 entered into Uio holy [ilace with the blood ol atonement. 
 
 ^ When that grt'at event took place, who did tho priest repre- 
 Bi'nt ? The priests, or tho elders, or the God-foar)Kg pnrib 
 of tho Israelites ? Certainly not ; but every Jew, ^liere 
 wasn't one of tho vast multitude but would sny, Iloxia 
 gone in as my representative, and I am accepted in Hi 
 Now tho apostlo says Christ is a great High Priest, of 
 whom tho other was but the type. Who, then, did Ho 
 represent ? The answer of the Book is. All mankind. 
 If you want to measure tlio " us " whom Christ repre- 
 sents, you can easily do it! Hisf favourite name was not 
 ** I the Jew;* but " I the Son of Man." When He came, 
 the angels appeared to the shepherds, and with faces 
 radiant with delight said, " Behold, we bring you glad 
 tidings of great joy, which shal^ bo to all people." When 
 He was here, His favouritevapostle, guided by the Holy 
 Spirit, declared, " That Cod Bov loved tho world, that Ho 
 gave His only-begotten Son, tmvt we might, not perish." 
 When His great work on earth nvim finished, and He was 
 ascending to His native glory, He g)iye His disciples the 
 command that tlu-y were to cafry the\lad news that He 
 had procured life and heaven, mercy anJgraco for all to all 
 the world ; ond as if He tlioughl that 8ornd\day they ipight 
 
 / 
 ■/ 
 
THE THRONE OF GRACM 
 
 \ 
 
 99 
 
 limit ni« mercy, and tliiiik thnt ROtiie poor aoul wm iMyomt/ 
 itf roocli, Ho mldcd, " And to «v«ry onfaturo." Bo that the 
 * 111 •' of tho text i« 09 broad «iii " all p«o|»lo," " tli6 world," 
 and "every crouture." U conit-s to ev»jry one of iN^and 
 wmpi us round liko the atuuMphere. And looking aV it 
 tonight, I rejoice to announce tlii^t there i« not a ohilil . 
 of man but may be a child of Ood. \ 
 
 IV. liOt us inquire how these bloaaingii are to bo obtained. 
 The a|K)itle gives \\% nioMt explicit inforumtion. IIu says, 
 **Lit us comt that wo* may obtoin ; " not ju»t admire tlie 
 tieasings, or praise them, or recommend thera, or desire 
 them, or ask others to pray that we may receive them ; but 
 ■" coirjp," ay, and " come to the throne." Some are satisfied 
 >vith coming to the church, but this is not enough ; you 
 ^ may do that and perish. Tho church is but tho ante-room ; 
 /the " throne " is farther in. And to this throne each of us 
 must come for ourselves, or perish ; others can go for ua, 
 and even with us, but thoy cannot go instead of us ; each 
 ' 4)f us njust go for ourselves, or wo can never enter heaven. 
 ' /Brother, sjster, I ask you in tho name of my Master, the 
 King, Will you come to-night and have pardon? will you 
 come to-night and have 'grace t will you ? will you now? 
 " Oh ! " I hear some of you say, " I would give the worhl if 
 I could, but my sins are so many and so great, tho very 
 thought fills n)e with terror." I tell thee, my fellow-sinner, 
 this is wrong ; thou mayest well tremble, but there is no 
 room for despair. The apostle asks thee not only to come, 
 to "come boldly," that is cmjidently ; and I toll thee 
 that there is nothing in the world so certain as that if 
 dost come thou wilt obtain both mercy and grace. 
 Men t^k about making an experiment when they come 
 to God iV prayer. It is nohsenso ; there is no experiment 
 about it. \The experiment was made ages ago, and the 
 matter settled for ever. Even as I apeak, millious of 
 
 \ 
 
IM 
 
 THE THRONE Ot GRACE. 
 
 witn«iiM*« on earth iml in hoftven are ready to cry ont, 
 " Faillifut ia H« who hath promiMd, who alto will do it." 
 N Hing, then, away thy (MirulyRintit ^**^^> ""*' <^*^'"« confidently 
 to the tlirono. Fiiilur« it lrn|K>«iil»lo. Tlio in«rchant may 
 aend hia veiMiol to diatant landx, and nuvur nee h«r return ; 
 the 'farmer. may low hia wttA, and never know the joy of 
 hnrveat; the mother, as »he fuUiA her little one to her htrnrt, 
 Md iaya. " l)iit iamo rIiaI] comfort me," nay never lean on 
 hia atrong arm, or feel hia loving kiaa ;. but never, never, 
 never, con a child of man come to the throne of grace, and 
 be rejectcil. 
 
 la there one here to-night who feara to come 7 Then to 
 him I will spi'nk, and may the Holy spirit help me ao to 
 reason with hitn that faith may now take the place of fear f 
 Tliou sayest, poor sinner, that thou ar( afraid to come to 
 the throne l)eoaMsc of thy Hins. But think, first, of tho 
 ehnraeter of the place to which thou art invited. It is not to 
 the throne of judgment, hut the throne of grace. When 
 tho cotton famine visited bmcaahiro, and the generosity of 
 the people of this land was Hhowp as it never had been 
 shown before, and tho milwayrf wpre burdened with tho 
 ; generous gifts of all classes, wo didn't leave tlnsse treosuroa 
 . in the streets for any pasper-by to take. Ijirgo warohousea 
 were procured, und comniittcea appointed to sec that they 
 were given to the proper persons. Now, suppose I had 
 gone into the street at I'roston, and met a poor operativo 
 looking thin, and poorly clad, and had asked him if he 
 was out of work, and he had replied, "Yes, sir; and 
 have been for two years." I say, "Then I suppose your 
 resources are exhausted, and you can hordly find food for 
 your family?" He answers, "No; I have neither clothe*, 
 tior food for myself or them, and I don't know what to do." 
 I say, " Why don't yoj^go to the dep6t and get what you 
 want ? There is abundance there." He says, " Ah ! bpt, 
 air, I haven't a farthing left." I answer, " I kuQw it ; and 
 
THE THRONE OF GXACK. 
 
 101 
 
 <f you had, them tre t hundred ehoiMi In Prraton tb«t would 
 Im gisd to ■«« ) cm ; but this is » place oimiknI for ihoee 
 Mrho have no iiMHiey, end there ie nolNKly in tho world nioie 
 welcome to tint treaeur<>e tli«re than yoiir«clf." And lo 
 mitXx theo, |KK)r Hinncr. Thia place i« ofMiied on purpoee 
 /or thee. If nuin had not ffinned he could have met OcmI 
 on the throne of glory ; but ae^tig ho liaa ainnctl, Ciod haa 
 erected thia throne on pur{)oae that the guilty inny come 
 and otitain (iardon"and lif«. 
 
 Secondly, Think of Itim who %m on th* throm. He it 
 fully made known to uh in tho lUtdo ; and, thoroforo, th«re 
 t« no room fur a dimbi. Thts \\tmk Huyii llu in love, that 
 lit) delights in mercy, thnt He ia ready to punlon, that He 
 ban whut we need, that He dolighta to bestow it. Why, 
 then, heHitute to go to Him 7 Hvmcnilier 
 
 " W» lovi it M ipnwt u Hi* powtr." 
 
 t 
 
 Flee to Him at onco, and you will find that Ho will 
 do " exceeding at)undant above alt that you can aak or 
 think." 
 
 Thirdly, Think of your infiniU Friend f^/ort the thront. 
 During the cotton famine I went to many a man in n^, 
 and Bttid, "Why don't you go to the tommittco and get 
 nvhat you require 7 " and tite ro|iIy wan, " I can't. I have 
 never asked for help in my life. It has been my joy to 
 give, and not to gut. If I were to try to spenk for myself 
 I should be chokud ; I can't do it. I'll starve first." And 
 I httvu said, " I dun't want you to speak ; I only want yott 
 to come. I will do all tho talking." And at tho appointed 
 time ho has come, and I have said, " Tliis is the person of 
 'whom t spoke;" and they at once relieved histlp^ts, .and 
 fiont him homo rejoicing. And so, poor sinner, it shall be 
 with thee. Tliou art saying, " I am such a gUilty wretch. 
 My ains have been so many, and so aggravatiwJ, that I dare 
 Dot apeak to (Jod; " and I point to One wlio "ever liveth 
 
 
 N... 
 
m^mmfrfmfmmmmmmmf^^ 
 
 ?•-* • 
 
 lot 
 
 rim TUKOME OF aXACB, 
 
 ■I 
 K 
 
 to iiiako inUrc«Miton ** for thm, tnd who it wttting tlii* 
 moment to (^kmcl for tha«. Oli, (p\ go with t)iy tinft, 
 thy thmne. thy tettnii fii)l tpw^hltMly btforv llirn, tod 
 lit will ractive ihct gnuioutly, tii<l utiderttkt thy etm, 
 Tlioti thtlt hnvtt t full tnd fret pardon, tnd b« tdmittitd 
 ttnougtt tbo tont tud dtnghttra of tho Lord Most 
 IllRh. 
 
 I)ott thott wtnt yet further «neotirftn<^'^^ ^ '^^^ I ^>i^ 
 thee MtMJl; 0/ th« inrntatiimt ami im>mtstM that art kttd &ut t^ 
 tht§ in Uod^i f^otxL 
 
 When our prince hrdtght hi« ftir bride to Kn;^Und. tliey , 
 trrivtd tt I'orttinuuth too Into in the evening to land. Her 
 heart wtt throbbing with nitny Iwwildurinif emotion*. 
 Wlitt would be the reception she should have ? would her 
 hutbnnd't people welcome t itrongor 7 and a host of other 
 question*. A* she couldn't *leep, *he went out on tho duck 
 of the veMol she wa« in ; tnd turning liur eyes towards tiio ^ 
 *hore, saw at evnry miistheatl in IvtturH of light, " Welcome t 
 Welcome to Alexundru I WcIcouim to our Prince**!" 
 And who can woni^r that, as she h><)ked, her fetrtkfled 
 twty, and her eye* fillod with t<mrs of joy. There wta no 
 room for a single doubt as to the character of her reception. 
 And so with thee, poor sinner. Dowed down under a 
 sense of thy enormous guilt, thou ort ufraitl to lift thy «yo^ 
 towards heaven, or to think of God. Hut I W*ing thee glad 
 tidings of groni»joy. , There is mercy for thod Ood Invite* 
 thee to His throne. Lift thy eyes, and wheHj thou didst 
 exi)eot to see the blackness of darkness, thou ^alt see a 
 thousand stars of promise cheering thee on. LookH.^ There- 
 is one, " Come." There is another, " Whosoever." , 'There 
 is another, " Nowise." See how they come out, like staict 
 at eventide, brighter and yet brighter, and every' one . 
 has a message of mercy for thee. Oh. fling away thy 
 fears I • See tho precious word's, and come at once to the 
 throne. 
 
 ,?•*■•■ 
 
 A 
 
wp^fl 
 
 ^^^^^^mi^^mmmmf 
 
 wfrnmrnmrnmrnm: 
 
 ntM TMRONM, OPGKACB, 
 
 I0| 
 
 Xkm% thmi wunt jr»t tiiottier tiKmiinii{t*tir«tit f Thtfn I 
 giv« the«. ill tlid la«t |ilart», tht fjtptrunt* ^f ikom wh0 
 ham goni bi{/uft th«$ — iIid mvoU oh ««rtli «iid in lieavdii. 
 A cloud of witiieMi** tli«y kUihI, und ihmy nil nijoieo to 
 ory, "I Mllod upon i)io I«onl, and H« heard mo, ami 
 d«livor«<l me uul of all my diatrefM^** 8«o tito littlo 
 outa wlion thoy go out willi Uielr Chriatiiiaa eoiktcUng 
 canla. Tli«r« ia a tfmid lUUi^cii'Ature luoking wialfully 
 at aomo geiitleiiiaira door. Wlu waiita to go, and yt?t 
 ia afraid ; when up couhm anolii«r with moro coiimgn, 
 and gm*a up to tlio door and knocka, and tho gvntUiinnii 
 coni«a out and r«c«ivi!M li«r kindly, and granta her riH)ueiit. 
 Af alio comva Iwi-k, the timid ono OAg«rly oaka, ** How did 
 you get on 7 " Blio r«pli«a. " Ho waa ao kind; Ho gnv« 
 me aix{N)nce, and Noid lie wcmid give aix|N!nce to every one 
 that camo." "Oh," aaya the little ono, 'I nill awtiy : " 
 ^aud ouon tlivro'a aiiotlior apiiliuaiit Would to Clod, [tottr 
 •inner, thou woutdiit do the aanio I Turn to Uiy nvighhour 
 in the pew. Tli<*ru are aeorea of ua in thia oongrogation 
 willing to lie " Jeaua' witneHsus." I oiin oay, " Thia poor 
 man cried, and the Umi heard him and dulivort'd him.** 
 Men and women of all ages, of all eliarac4er8, are liero ; and 
 we aU wont to thn hiuiu! throiusand wu all found iialviitioti 
 there. Oh, go, go, wlioovor, whatever tlum art I I.o<»k ut 
 thia " thoruforo ;" show it to tliy doubting heart; show it to 
 the tfiioiny of houIm who tiiea to hinder thee. Say, " Ikfcaune 
 it is the throne of grace, bocauae a God of love ia on it, 
 becauHO Jesus is before it, because I am invited to it, 
 because millions have ulrcudy gone tlvere, and not one haa 
 been n-jected; therr/ore — and not because I dcseivu anything 
 but perditioQ— I will arise and go." 
 
 ^^\ 
 
 ..««.. 
 
 V 
 
 i^^i 
 

 
 IX. 
 
 MM A I FOH aoOD WORKS} 
 
 •r4 |»«»lf/ iinl« lliiiM«tl • |wtitiii«r ^|ii«, c^litfM «l |p)»4 w>.rlk*."«> 
 Trtva tt. 14. 
 
 
 TIIOBK (>f you who Irnvt rMfHlthat ftpitid liult book» 
 Mtnttttrtnff C'htUirtn^'^M nxulloot tha icon* with 
 ' " Old Willio." You rviufiiilwr Witlio wm tiUlng «( hit 
 *' coUag* door, aa ho had dotia many « tfnio, watching tho 
 ahadowt'^ thoy went atoaling along, wlitn a young girl 
 caiue up^^tilni and«»k«fl him if he didn't litul tho daya 
 vary loni^^iid wc*ariionie, sitting th«re and doing nothlni 
 And tha old man r«|died, " My doiug duyN are ov 
 " Well, thun," nuid the child, " why %yt read / why 
 read the lUblo ? why not r««d the alory of your Bavi 
 life?" And the old man latd that he didn't know how to 
 read; iie,o|g^ wlihiul that he did. The girl oaktHl him, 
 Had he il«W|y<)iiri>fid.? ^Y«e, a little;" hut he hud 
 forgotten t''^«flNttl'}>'M^'<^na^ " Well, then," aaid ahot 
 with the f»ix^MfulSmiB^>t youCH, " why don't you learH 7" 
 Thu old nian mpPrai^('artiiii]^dS^ii wurn al)Out ovur, and 
 that it wae lUntljr^voiili trying. "Oh yen," «he Bai\l, 
 ••you can canily li'urn, if you try." Would he try if.ihtji^ 
 would UsdoU him 7 Wtdl, catching a little of the enthuA 
 aiiiHni of hia tompanion. ho Mid he waa willing to try. if 
 ahti waa willing to take tho trouble to be h'm teacher. And 
 accordingly the plan was acted upon. You recollect she 
 
 * Prracb««l at tha o|h niiig of tlia Wratmtnatar Cha|Ml. 
 
 1U4 
 
 
 1. 
 
 i0 
 
 * 
 
 -'iff 
 W 
 
to 
 
 /it^/ WM HOOD nVMA'S 
 
 <i 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 10 
 
 will Imv« imr Hr«i iMMtm.** trying lo twAkt*!! wImI flti«ii«(«i«i 
 
 ^ |k« miKht b«v« of lh« IfitrtiiitK <Hf bjrguitti diiy* hy iKMrwlitig 
 to tb« Intttr / ll« fuittiil oul that Im kiMw ttMl;MKti 
 ihoy wMit INI to tf. tiHl tbf n to i> and «, tnd i» till Im dtkl 
 •iwll tiM wonl. " Tb«r»,'* mA4 tb« cbilil, " yoii MM^lMi (n 
 ihn iMtiM of yo<ir tibiMMtl Hnviour, J«mm.** Ami tiM cftl 
 tiMti, «• |tlrwM«l M hi* tmichtr WM to havt goi on || 
 ni|>itlly, went over dihI met •|{«iit with tbo word ** JmvJ^ 
 .nmua." "Now," Mill Ui« litilK girl, "t thall lmiv« ymtt 
 iiHil yott c«n limk at ymir Hral le«at>ii, ami you rati mm i^ 
 how many |>lac«a you oait Mml thla iMiaiiiiful worJ/* And 
 the old man went on eng^rly with hi* Imaon down <H>lttnin | 
 alter ooluinn, and fount! the word h^r« and there ind 
 yonder; and he made little marks, lliat he might show 
 hia tvaoher how riever he waa. Here was ileaita, and thef« 
 wnN Jtmui, aiKl he i|iiite longed for Imr to come that tike 
 littglit at'O haw iiiiliiwtiioua he had Iteen. The old lumi 
 goe« on, yon rvcolleot, to my that by and by ho could 
 
 i read pretty wttl ; " but," mild he, " I never foi^ my Ani 
 leiHMm, and,** tald he afttirwanU, " whenever I came to tht 
 
 '' tttbte I ^imfd urte itwayl looking tor Jmu&* 
 
 Well, imw^ I aak you, it not that juat tnie. or oiighl It 
 not, at •)! eV-tintH, to be trtiu of tltiHio who gnthor in iUH\'§ 
 |loiiM\ §8 w«U as lliOMO who giithttr aroiii|»l (Jod'a Word f 
 OuKht w« not «vor to Im looking for J«ru« ? Ought wo 
 not to be diiuiatiN^ if we meet with everybody oIm; and 
 <lo not niuot with Juaitt? Ought n«i^t ou# lungunge to Im, 
 whuii Wo nro coiH« here, "WewuuAl «co Jtiaua"? An<l 
 it is only in proportion m Chritt is put forth before the 
 |K!Oplo tlitit tliuy will Ut movtid, tuid tlmt the soul wdl 
 lio- brought out of (liuknrns into iliut light which Go<l 
 designs it to enjoy. ^Tliis ISook is couHtruulud U|)on this 
 
 ■ wry principle, that Christ should be in the forefront. 
 Soiuebody hue suid, und very well said, that there it 
 
 
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my 
 
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 S:7 )sH • 
 
 C/l 
 
 r/ 
 
 ■/■'.. 
 
 'A 
 
 ./ 1 
 
 i;"w^ 
 
 •*:* 
 
toC 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS, 
 
 not a town in Englund in which there is not a road to 
 Ix)ndon ; and so tht-ro is not a passugo in the IJil)le from 
 which there is not a roud to Calvary. Sometimes, howevir, 
 there is a difliculty in findin;,' the joad. Vou seem to 
 have to go hy a very circuitous path to ge^ to it. 
 There are other passages, however, that read so plain, 
 that the wayfaring man, though a fool, cannot err 
 therein ; and it seems to mc that my text to-night is ono 
 , of these, Christ is in the very forefront of it. I wa» 
 going to say, I should like to hear a man preach from 
 my text and leave Jesus out. Jesus is in the front, in the 
 middle, and at the end; and you have thus in these few 
 words Christ, His work, and His design in doin^ that work; 
 and if there is a poor sinner come in here to-night, I tell 
 him he has but to get my text into his head, and through 
 V' God's grace into his heart; and though he were standing 
 on the very mouth of hell, it would lift him up to the 
 veior throne of God. God grant it may be so with some 
 to-night I 
 
 First, tlien, let ug look at Him of whom my text speaks 
 —-The Person. You will see that everything depends on 
 this. You and I know that our views of any act will 
 depend very much upon our views of the actor; that, for 
 instance, some act performed by two persons occupying 
 different positions in life, or having different relationships, 
 will have altogether a, different influence upoii us, and a 
 different aspect to us. It would be easy to show this. 
 Suppose, for instance, you were at homo, and a poor 
 woman were to come along, worn out and weary/ and 
 were to asK permission to ^ come in, an4 sit down and 
 rest herself. You give her permission, and, as she sits 
 there, she unburdens her heart of some of the thousand 
 woes that have been pressing upon it. Wheir she has 
 refreshed herself, she rises, thanks you, and goek on her 
 r journey. Well, now, in a week that wiU be forgotten. 
 
 / 
 
 •^ T 
 
 € 
 
 4 
 
 mim 
 
ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 107 
 
 // 
 
 But supposp, instead of a poor woman, another woman canio 
 along, oven our own dear Queen Victoria, whom may VnA 
 preserve I I say, suppose that she came along. Suppose 
 thai blio wero weary. Supposu that she asked permission 
 to come in and rest herself. Would that be forgotten 
 next week or the week after? Would it not rather bd 
 .the event of your life? Would it not till your latest dny 
 bo a pleasure to tell how the Quepn of England had entered 
 your house, had sat in that chair, and had said this, and 
 that ? Hero then, you see, is the same act, performed by 
 two women, but the difTerenco in the position of the person 
 makes all the difference in your estimate of the act. Now, 
 my te)f| tells ua that somebody has done something for us. 
 Our fiM <iuestiott, ^f course, is, Who is that somebody? 
 If it is a person of no position, of no influence, we should 
 say it was very kind, but ft was a very^^reat waste. If 
 some person of no position and no influence should give 
 himself, even give hiqiself to death for us, we should say 
 that this was a proof of his love, but we should remain just 
 where we were before that wonderful act had been per- 
 fonned. But if we find out that the person who ha* 
 done this, occupies such a position that he cannot perform 
 an inconsiderate act, and that whatever he does must be 
 of infinite value, then at ondtf we shall recognise the 
 importance of the statement in the text. So, then, I 
 ask. Who is it of whom the text speaks? Like the old 
 Pharisees, I would cry, " Who is this? who is this ? 'V 
 And, thank God, we have not to go far for an answer. I 
 look at the preceding verse, and I read this, " Looking for 
 ' that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great 
 God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for 
 us." There is the answer, Jesus Christ ! Thank God, not 
 a strange name to us, not a name that we hear to-night for 
 the first time. It is a name that has been upon the tongues 
 of men»lor ages, and they have not done with it yet. It is 
 
 im 
 
toS 
 
 ZEAL FOR 'good WORKS, 
 
 « m.n.o that has but to be spoken to-night to make » 
 in.lliou hearts throb the faster, tt is a name that has but^" 
 to be whispered into the ear of tJH> dying to make the eye 
 unclose and the tongue to speak again. It is the lost 
 imrno the saint whispers on earth ; it is the first name 
 ho shouts in heaven. This is He. of whom the text speaks, 
 Jesus Chnst gave Himself for us." Do you still ask. 
 Who IS He ? I refer you to the Book— the Book so full 
 of Christ. Who is He ? 
 
 "Join all the glnrimia nnme* 
 Of wisdom, lov.', «mi power, . 
 « Thut ever mortttlH kii«w, 
 
 Thnt aiiMla over bore t 
 All arc too ni^an to speak Hrii worth, 
 Too mean to ket our fiteviour forth." 
 
 He is the mighty God— ke is the Prince of the kings of 
 the earth. God over all, Wssed for evermore— He I He 1 
 «ave ^Himself for us. 0^ that we could but believe it I 
 If when we thought of t^e cross we also thought of the 
 crown! If when we thdught of the sacrifice we remem- 
 bered a so the infinite yaUe of that sacrifice, how our hearts 
 would leap for' joy, ana how unhesitatingly we should ' 
 commit ourselves for time and eternity to His merciful 
 ^are! Here, then. I say. is the first thought in the text: 
 IheP^raon 18 Jesus CHRrsT. ^ 
 
 ^ Secondly, let us look at His work. What has He rfone? 
 The answer ,s very brief, but very complete, and very 
 ^ouraging^ to every penitent soul. "He gave Himself 
 ^ for us. There is His work. You have a few short words 
 hut; ya^ have the whole Gospel wrapped up in them. Oh 
 that I had the power to bring out all that is hidden in 
 these wonderful words ! Let us look at them. May the 
 Spirit help us f First, you will see that this work was 
 rnkmary. "He gave Himseir Voluntary; how could 
 It be compulsory ? I ask.JWho could have dragged Him 
 
 
 
-*^l I 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD IVORKS, 
 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 109 
 
 flrom His throno 7 Who could have wrested tho sceptre 
 from His grasp ? Who could hivyo torn tho diadem from 
 His brow ? High o'er tho angelic bands Ho reared His- 
 consecrated head ; and there, wtth the Father before the 
 foundation of the world, Ho looked down upon us — lost, 
 ruined, perishing. He saw — oh, tluTO is as much theology 
 as there is poetry in this, and I love to let my very heart 
 utter itl — He saw, not He heard, He saw — saw what? A 
 world of rebels. Saw what 7 Every thought and inclina- 
 tion of man's heart in rebellion. 
 
 " Ho flaw, and ^0 amazing love I 
 He Hew to our relief. " 
 
 The text says, " He gave Himself for us." 
 
 And then it was not only voluntary, but substitutionary. 
 He gave Himself for us-^instcad of us. Just take that idea,, 
 for that is the teaching of the text. Instead of us, substitu- 
 tionary. Ob, 1 love to think of this, that all Christ did He 
 did for me. You ask, How big is tjiis us ? and unless you 
 have got clear notions of tho extent of the M«,you will niver 
 .catch the full beneBt and extent of the text I ask, then,. 
 How big is the us I * And I come to the Book for an ex- 
 planation. How big ? Gave Himself for us — for us. But,. 
 I ask, How many are there included in that wa/ and the 
 answer that comes from this Book, I say, is " every man," 
 " all men," " every creature," " the whole world." There you 
 have the measure with which to measure it. And now„ 
 with these thoughts before you, look again at my text, and 
 see how it wraps round every one of us. " He gave Himself 
 for us." I look down at this congregation : " For' us.'* 
 What, not one excluded ? No. I go out among the teem- 
 ing multitudes itf this city: " For us." I go home, and 
 look at my little ones, and say, "For us." I cannot find 
 too few; bless God, I cannot find too 'many. I see it 
 stretching out, reaching to all nations, and peoples, and 
 tongues; and ifvto-night I could gather all Adam's sons 
 

 -<>■■;■ I <j.. • 
 
 110 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD IVOUKS. 
 
 before mo, nnd if I Imd a voice fo ronch tliein oil, unheal- 
 ttttingly would I uttor tho wordi of the text, " Jesus Christ 
 gave Himself for us." 
 
 But if you wjint to realize the full blessing of this 
 ilfchrrttion, you must, instead of having it expanded, you 
 luust^shall I say so ?— have it condensed. I believed in 
 the universality of the atonement long before I believed 
 in its individual application to myself. I was perfectly 
 willing to discuss tho matter with any of my young 'friends, 
 «nd some of them entertained very opposite notions, and 
 many a long discussion did we have, and of course it left us 
 just where it found us. Tho thought that brought salvation 
 to my oAVn Jienrt was not that He loved everybody; it was 
 that He loved me. Instead of 8j)rertding the sunshine over 
 the world, and u.aking it all beiiutiful, I got tho sun-glass 
 of faith, and I held it up before the Sui» of Righteous- 
 iiess^ and I concentrated the rays upon my bwn heart ; ftnd' 
 that heart, which was so cold, soon got warm, and where 
 there had been darkness there was a holy flame enkindkd ; 
 and the cry of my lienrt was, " He loved me, He gave 
 Himself for me." As an article of our creld, we believe 
 He died for every one; but as an act of our fkith, we must 
 believe that all He did He did for us. I Kke to go through 
 the Gospels with that thought in my mmd. And if there 
 IS one here who has not found peace with God, I would ask 
 him to do that. Go through the history, of Christ and say, 
 ^' He died for me, for me, for me, for me, for me." Just be 
 selfish in your reading for once. "Don't give it to the 
 heathen yonder. Bring it all in for your own heart. Thea 
 joyously sing — 
 
 " I tlie chief of sinners am» 
 But Jesus died for me." 
 
 .^ "He gave'Himself for us." Do you ask md what there is 
 
 wppped up in that word " gave " ? It is a wonderful word. 
 
 I/WJ^ ^ ^"^^ '^'"* "° human mind can understand all there 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 

 ...■'»i,..* ' 
 
 Z£^L FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 fa there. You have the whole story of Christ in that short, 
 •wuet, simple expresHion, "He gave Himself." Yes, it 
 begins at tho ninnger — and it ends ot the cross. It follows 
 Him all through life. All His wondi-rfitl life is wrapped 
 up in this blcsaed utterancw, " He gave Himself for us." 
 
 Then there is the third clause. Wo Imve looked at tho 
 
 Person, Jesus Christ. We have looked at His work. We 
 
 have seen it to bo voluntary, and we have seen it to bo 
 
 substitutionary. Wo want, in the third place, to look at 
 
 Hw HESIOK IN DOING IT. Why did He do this ? Why leave 
 
 His Father's throne above and wrap Him in our cfay ? Why 
 
 did the King of Glory become a Man of Sorrows ? Why 
 
 all this ? And here is the answer, " He gave Himself for &8, 
 
 that Ho might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto 
 
 Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Let us 
 
 dwell upon this for a time— His design in doing this work. 
 
 First, the text says, "that He might redeem us from all 
 
 iniquity," What do we understand by that? There is a 
 
 possibility of our using what I may call theological words 
 
 without having themeaning distinctly before us which those 
 
 words were meant to convey. It is very possible for us to 
 
 talk about " regeneration" all our lives, and yet have nothing 
 
 like tt definite idea of the moaning of tho word, So we may 
 
 talk about "justification," and we may talk about " sunctift- 
 
 cation," and it is possible for us to talk about " redemption," 
 
 and yet not thoroughly understand it. I dare say our young 
 
 friends here have found out already, that the best way to 
 
 ascertain if we really know a thing is to try and teach it to 
 
 childrep. We thep soon find out that we have taken a great 
 
 deal for granted; and it is just so with these teniis. if I 
 
 talk to a lot of children, it is easy to say, "Jesus Christ 
 
 gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity;" but I 
 
 should not by these words cotivey any very distinct idea to 
 
 a child's mind. The child would be likely to say, " But 
 
 what does redeem mean?" You see I want a synonym. 
 
na 
 
 ZEAl FOR GOOD IVOUK'S. 
 
 I want niiotlier word or somo more worUii tliat I can use 
 
 . in«teatl ol tliiH, which a fhild can underHtnnd. Just ao it is 
 
 J with us to-ni«ht ; and 8(* it is alwiiyu. WoII, I u«k, What 
 
 / *^*'«« tJ>«8 word redeem immn.i'^ If you will allow mo to- put 
 
 ^ a sulwtituto that does not cover the whole ground, I admit, 
 ■ ^but that covers Gnouj,di ground for our purpose to-night, I 
 . should put the word " deliver." Now, the child con umldr- 
 stand that, and I want you to understand it; and I want 
 you to understand that Jesus Christ gave Himself on pur- 
 pose that :Ho might deliver you and me. There is the text, 
 then, " Who gave Himself for us, that He might deliver us 
 from all iniquity." Not just that He might form a party ; 
 [ or that Ho might be preached about, and admired: not 
 
 I- ' , ^^^\ Not jusl that His proises mny be sung in l)eautiful 
 
 music} or that clHirches may bo built to His honour and 
 glory. For something far beyond all that, and something 
 - that has a distinct and dii'ect reference to every one of us : 
 "Who gave Himself for us, that Ho might deliver us from* 
 _ 1 all iniquity." . ' ^ ^ . 
 
 Let^us look at it. How are we to understand it ? I 
 ^ need not go over the whole ground, but merely glahce at 
 It You and I are born in sin. 'Voir and I are therefore 
 ■ under condemnation. We talk very often, as if we were 
 
 to be condemned at the judgment day; but the Book says 
 we UTO condemned already. The sentence is passeiT upon 
 all, "for that all have sir^ned." We are under cbridemna- 
 tjon ; that is our state by nature. We are, in shqtt, legally 
 r ^ rfead;. and the world is our prison-house, where we await 
 the day of execution. Now, you know VQry well that when 
 a man is accused of murder, for instance, he is placed in the 
 dock. The trjal ends, "the verdict is brought in, " Guilty." 
 . • The judge 8t9ps, and asks the prisoner if he has anything 
 to say ? So long, that man, has a legal life; but now th^ 
 judge puts on the black cap. and. then the sentence of death 
 is pronounced; and the moment that sentence of death is 
 
 ,^ ■ ■ : 
 
 .■iji"n,i. ;' ",V 
 
ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS, 
 
 113 
 
 pranoimcwl tliat man's K'«nl lifo ^nflnii. !!« cannot inako 
 a will. If UutliHcliiM hiniNcll' won! to (Ijm, and li-nvo that 
 man \\^ |>r<.|M!rty, the law wonhl mxy, " Therw in no iiuch 
 umn; timt man ceanod to live in tho dock yonder; that 
 man hiiH a physicnl lifo, but not a loj^al life." Now, I auk, 
 what is to Ik? dono ? I remondwr goin« down to liutcanter 
 Homo yt-nrs a^o, and when I ffot out at tho ntiition a gontlo- 
 nuui 8ui«l, " Do you know who that is?" pointing,' to a mther 
 Hhort, thick-rtot man who was walking just in front of me. 
 I said, "No. Who is it?" Ho said, "That is (.'ulomft; 
 he is como down for tho execution to-morrow;" and pointing 
 to the little portmanteau he hold in his hand, my friend' 
 snid, " That is ti) take away the prisoner's clothes in, Ikm-iiuso 
 nothing helon«»s to the prisoner after he is condemned." 
 Merqy says, wo will lend you the clotjios till the day of 
 execution; mercy says, we will give you your food; but 
 
 . tho law does not know such a man ; the law does not 
 acknowledge bis existence— he in dead. And now, my 
 brother, that is the condition of every one of ns by nature. 
 We are under sentence ; and any moment we may go «piick* 
 down into hell. Kveryj^ioment we live, while we am in, 
 rebellion, is by permission of God's mercy -is nn exercise 
 of that love which in a higher degree gave Christ to die fur 
 ua. Here, then, is our state: we are in prison; you and I 
 ai-e in prison ; we are under condemnation, having a physical 
 life, but no legal spiritual life; ftnd there can be none until 
 the throne interferes. Thank God 1 the throne is above the 
 bench. Thank God! when Moses dooms us to death, the 
 King may gi-ant us pardon. Now, what do we want? 
 
 TWe are in prison — what do we want? Access to the 
 throne, and a -plea to urge when we get there. I ask, 
 
 .Have we an/ such plea by nature, or any such access? 
 You know we have n9t. Have I any plea to urge as a 
 sinner when I go to God ? Can I say that I am not guilty ? 
 I cannot, My heart condemns me,. and "God is greater 
 
 ■ ' H 
 
 ^_-t , 
 
f 
 
 fm^mwi" 
 
 'r^r 
 
 »»4 
 
 ZfiiAl FOH GOOD WOHKS, 
 
 tliaii our hofirt." Can I lay I dlilii't know wlmt I wa« dolnff, 
 or tlint I Willi coiii|M<tliHl to do wlmt I did ? I ciiiinot.' 
 Miim wu* a vohiiitnry Hct. I hroko tii« law, and h«n) m a 
 crimiMiii I awnit tho duy of execution. .Iuniin raw tliiN. 
 The prijion door wan I okod ; th« boautiful world that 
 II« iiifftut f<ir a l«nipl« wnii tiirnwl Into a dungeon ; 
 liMin wuH locked in, and OchI and His ni«rcy, no t«> b|MHik, 
 liM kud out ; and thuu it wa« tliat Josua camo, aa you aud 
 I ding— 
 
 •• In thK <Inrnurinf[ llon'« Wlli, 
 Turn, Ami fDrMHik ofall, I Ujr; 
 Tlion «i>r«iiM'«t into tliA J«w* of (Irath, 
 Froiu duath U> mivo tliu halitluM pray." 
 
 t 
 
 IIo took upon lliinflolf our nnturH, hecauio our reprosonta- 
 tivf. ;ook the keys of our priHon^liuuif into IliN hund, into 
 A l.H'ding [land, nnd then, flingi^T buck tliu UdtM, He 
 opt'nt'd the door, and suid, "It is fluislivd;" and tlwn 
 n«cenil«d to lieftven, th^|dlu might Us rvudy to proHont 
 our cry for mercy wh.n Wm^^^ pnipurod to ollVr it. Hut, 
 I H8k, wlmt was donerwhut wns done when Jesus 
 <lieJ? What was done viien .Ie»us ascended ? Were wo 
 delivered ? No ; wo were only put within the reach of 
 tliliverance. Helore that, we rould not approach the throne, 
 and i»ard()n could not come to us; but now the door is 
 open, and any child of nam, anywhere, may through Christ 
 approach the Father, and \w\y ask for' the forgiveness of 
 his sin.. "Ves, the prison door is opened, but wo are not 
 delivered. 
 
 The text says He gave Himself to ddivct us; not just to 
 open the door, but to deliver us. Man may be in piisoii 
 witli the door open ; and if the man is in bondage, though 
 the door is opened he cannot get out That is" just our 
 position by nature ; that is where we are if. we leave off* 
 just at the cibss. The door is open, the door in open, and 
 
 i; 
 
ZEAL rOM GOOD WOUKS, 
 
 »»5 
 
 4 
 
 w« may tlitit draw near to God. But ttioro it aomotliiiig 
 iIm U> bu doiuf. What U that Y \\y the direct iiiterfor- 
 eiicM of i\w Holy Spirit wo nro to In) ttiuj^ht that wm nru in 
 ImhhIurm. Wm do not know it. Thw fiiut in, ninny of \\% 
 have had iho cliuina on im) loiij^ that we have U'min U) Im 
 proud of thoni. The devil hna- ({iUled iheni, and triml u 
 (wrnuade us that tli«y are gold ; and nu^n »(lory in their 
 ahanie. Tliuy chuik the chains, and think the Hound it 
 8\vei>teat niUHio. Are there not t«in« of thouMindx around 
 u« ^-ni^Ut in I/indon wlio tliink that tlieir Rirni are their 
 ornanientH; who fancy, bocauso thwy can awear, l>.'cause 
 they can cheat, b«cauH« tJuiy can Hm, ht'tau.se thwy c«cn light, 
 that we ouglit to take our iuita off U) them ? Ay, and waa 
 tliere no such fueling as that in our own niindtt once ? 
 I aak you to press the qu«*stion horuti upon your heart. 
 Wore you never proud of your woiMliniws ? Were you 
 never proud of your sinfulness? Did you never Mhake 
 your chain and ank pcoplu to admire it ? You kru)W. Well, 
 Jesus ascended, and the door of the prison - house was 
 opened. Then the Jloly Spirit came ; an<l it is the work 
 of the Spirit to complete the great worl^ wliich Christ com- 
 nienfced. How (Iocs Ho do it ? The very first thing the 
 Holy Spirit does when He comes to a man is to take the 
 gilt oil* his chain, to make hint feel that he is in bondage, 
 to nmke the iron enter into his soul, to make him conscious 
 of his state, and so to hate his slavery that he is willing 
 to be saved in God's way. Oh, it is a new era in u man's 
 history when he begins to see that he is a slave! Ho has 
 been aceustomed to sing, " Britons never shall be slaves; " 
 to sojyr, that slaves cannot breathe in England. Has he 
 not been talking over and over again about the power he 
 l)OHsc8HC8, and about his being a free agent ? IJut, oh, what 
 a chan;^e takes place when ho really linds he is a slave of 
 the devil, and when he can use the beautiful language of 
 the Church of England, and say he/is tied and bound with 
 
? 
 
 Il« 
 
 lEAl W/t GOOD WOMKS. 
 
 tbt ch«lfi of Ilia Kin : nrnthnr. have you «v«r found o«( 
 tliia ? llavA y«ii tviT riHiiui llial yoii am Iwl captive hy 
 lli« cl«vil at hia wilH Hnve you. ever found out that 
 tinl«aa (lo«l Almighty inturrvran for you. thiTw ia iiothinK 
 for you hut ain hero, ami damnation hervnAi'r ? Hav« you 
 ntfver found thia out \ If you have, thank Uo«l for it If 
 yw have not, oh, cry aloud to-niwlit that the 8^>irit may 
 dpi tft convint'« you of ain ! Whwn the Spirit awakoa ii 
 aMn, ho Ixtgina to !n» ANhanivd of hia ain, he heKin« to lliid 
 that ho in not qiiito m Htron^ m \w thouv^ht \w wnn; .Tm 
 ninkea up hia mind ho will bo » iNittor nuin. I lMtli«'v&<^. 
 nino oaaea out of ton, when a uinn awukumi to tho fact $15 ,' • 
 \w ia ft alftve to sin, ho la unwilling to he aiivod fiy Chriit. 
 Vou nnd I im' mwor willing to Im» unvctl hy C^iriat, till wo 
 And we cannot Iw aaved without lliin. No. no. . Fling n 
 ropij'a ond to a man who can awim, and ho Won'l thank 
 yiiu. It l« tho man that in drowning who tliankn you for 
 tlm ro|H., and he idutijhea it for very Itfo ; and m with rnio 
 who ihinkN ho can save hinirndf. Ho Hayn, " T feel my 
 ti'iiiptT (lofH umHiviv mo ; I fotd my pride, my luat, my 
 pasMion do muster mo ; hut I m ill compmr my«elf." And hw 
 HCta to work to snap tho chain, or perliapn ho fancies ho haH 
 g«»t a file that can cut it, and ho sets to work to try to cut 
 his chain, and to get out of his lM)ndago. 
 
 I know how it was in my case When T woko up to the 
 fact of my being a slave. It wasfprst after I hml become 
 a teetotaller, and I was then very proud of my pledge, and 
 I had a notion that that pledge wiVhljinablo mo to do any- 
 thing; and I thoiight, "Well, now, I ha>e but to promise 
 that I will never yit-ld again, and of vunvm I shalPbe free." 
 I thou^rlit i^was a patent file that Would cut-off all tho 
 i)on(l8 of tho devil : so I nm<lo my vow. I bad a great 
 deal ol" trouble with my temper, and I made a Vow that I 
 would not yield to it. I solemnly pronii.sed and signed 
 my name to it. What was the result? I daresay all of 
 
 
 at 
 
 '-■i^ 
 
 \. * 
 
•■f 
 
 x: 
 
 jTA^x /x)Ar c?a^/> i^c;/rA'.iii 
 
 »t7 
 
 you linvii niiultf tlM Mtiit* txiwHiitmit. Mid with tli« Mim« 
 rmiill. h did till vory w«ll till tli« tttin|>tatitm caiiio ; iiid 
 tlidii my vow« w«rM its eiiipty at air, ami my |»roiiiiii**t, I 
 Imiku tli«m asaiii. I iriml and fMiled, and triitd and faiM; 
 and tlitm. iiitliiad uf |>rt>iuiiii|»tion. tltu dovil almiwt drove mo 
 to d(»|Mir, and I ttiou»ht. ** Wtdl, I iiuv«r can Im mved \ 
 •v«n Oud' HimMiir oould m>t mvo mo." And tiiftt it woa 
 -^jiiit whun d««|Miir oamo—lhat I mw li{{lit in the dark- 
 m*», and UmM a voiuo «ayint{, " Look to M« and b« 
 
 » Mttvud." Oil, bruthor, liavo you ovor m>t tliwrw f Hav« 
 you «ver felt y«mnwlf trt Iw a ulavo ? Hiivit you iiver 
 iriud and foilud, and tried nird fadiKl. tiy tliu ituvil hoa 
 lod you to iay. It ia no um trying ; tlmru ia ntt liot»o, tliurt- 
 foro iiftur my iiioli wdl I go ? Iluvu you uvor got Uier« ? 
 All, l.rotlior, if you have, I truat y«m will go further! 
 Wh«n duMftfiir tiikua hold of t man, th«n thuru ia liop« 
 for him; ami, thunk (UhI, thvro ia ho|M) for any man out 
 of hull. 
 
 I wiot down in Yoikahire in January, and a man canu; to 
 (iiHl'M houHo jurit U) inault m. H« eunui in ordur that he 
 might take not04 of what wum Raid, that liu might go away 
 to an intUltil gathering and innko uio <»!' tlium ; and he 
 ahowtnl me Ilia note-hook al'turwuitla, oml «ttid, " 1 wrote 
 until I could not write any more for my teara;" and 
 wiu'ii ut liirtt wu coneliuleil, he eame into the veatry, for hia 
 huurt,. was broken. VVlieii they wmit homo rtnd tohl hia 
 innthur of the iiieident, luid thiil he hud heuii^with me, ahe 
 auid, " It ia of no uae for Mr. (iarrott to H|)ond any time 
 over my lad ; he ia ao had that oven Ood Himaelf could 
 
 , not Have him!" Thank (iimI, ho ia aaved now I He ia 
 now a nienihur of the ('huich. From that hour he waa 
 changed. He aigiied the pletlge, wo went together and 
 sought mercy lor him, and thtjro ho ia now rejoicing in 
 (iod's forgiving love. Ah, dcHpair had come to him, and 
 he had felt hia utter helpleaaneaa and huiHjIuvaneaa 1 "He 
 
 
X 
 
 III 
 
 UtAL POR GOOD WOMKS. 
 
 titid RM, **I hdvt itMMl in « (Htlpil and pnNK'hmr; I Mm 
 Utfht •iKHigli in my hMd to ^uhte « iMtifNi to Immwh. 
 mhI Jit \m% I Mil with tHn hliti'kitiHi« of tUrkiiMM «U>tit 
 BMk** Aiul Ml iliMtfMiir cAiiiii to Itlin tir»t, mihI tWit, tliitiik 
 Ond. light «ml itilvaUoii cAm« I And if th^r« ii ft miuI 
 hvnt that Im* f«it tli« tiomlftui*. and i« fiMling it -if tli*« 
 irttn i« ,tiit«riii| into yuui aottl, I Mjr, llrotliirr, now go 
 fftHhtr. 
 
 Il« giive HiniMiir thftt ll« might dilivw na ; nol that flu 
 might jtiit touch ttt ; for, 1 atk, what {• thu good of tUMch^ 
 ifig tlioMi who eutinot h^arf Not nidintly to i«t ut nti 
 •xmiiplc i for wlittt giNKi in mi exaiiipio to thiMo who cannot 
 iinitattt it f Hm giiva IliniMilf to givo ligh^ lo our inindu, (o 
 giv« gmoe to our hitiirti, to give fretidoni to our louU IIm 
 guv« IlimMir tliiit He might deliver u«. Oh, I never •liidl 
 forget the dny wlien Jenus t(K)k uiy aim away ! I rumenilwr 
 I Wttt in the iron furnace. At that time I wouhl linve 
 given my riglit nrm if I could linvn Nuiig thut verne, ** My 
 U(hI Ik reconciled;" but (liou;;li I lN>giin it I cnuld n<»t tiinu 
 it . For ihne niontlm [ find lifen in the horril>lo pit, und I 
 IHikI over aiul over eguin to My, " My G(nI it recitiiclhul ; " 
 b||t I alwayn Htop|MMl Nlinit And thtai one Hatunltiy morn- 
 ing, awny from idl iulliicnccM that proilm^iL/mthuNiiiNin, i«,ur> 
 rounded by tlie world, I muw what my text R|K!akst of: liow 
 JuiUi Clirint had taken my place, how He hiid aufTiircd ill 
 my Htcrtd, how Ho had Ihtouic my rt»prc««'ntutivo, how Ify 
 had riH4!n from the dcid, h<rw lie hud taken poHMCHniou of 
 heaven in niy nanle, und whh there pleading for mo ; und I 
 Udievcd it with my whole heart ; and iKdoro I knew well 
 what I was Buying, \ cried out, " My (iTod is reconciled;" 
 and, blessed be Uod I it is so U)- night. "My (}«j«1 
 is reconciled. His pardoning voice I hear." Not by 
 works of rightcoUHueHH, birt, by grace are we saved 
 thro\igh fait|i. Hrothei-, look to ('hri.st to-iiiglit from the 
 suut where thou art sitting; look to Clitist, I suy, und 
 
 S 
 
 \\^it 
 
mAL POM GOOD WORKS. 
 
 lit 
 
 thoii wilt ttmlrr»Uml iIm mMtiitiK of (h*l Ultlt niviVil 
 hywm«— 
 
 ** IWmmi m mr *)1 1 v»i»lwn4 
 
 iKn Ik* •i'^lnil \AmA, 
 Tk» Holy N^ril •iti«M. 
 
 XU «»vfl nim««ir Irt a«Iiver up. Il»f« w« ire. Ihtn. \h*m 
 ur iM wliu liflivVit ill ChriAlt <kir tlMiiiM ftrax»n«|t|>«tl . mm 
 NTO not M c«|>livii of iIhi dtvll nowr wn uni con. 
 qiiitrtin, wi am iiiari than coii(|ti«r(>rf lltruugh lliiii ilial 
 
 luVWil II*. ' *" 
 
 Hut tliott my t«xt go«i on fiirth«f, iiihI tvIlN iii n»l 
 ii»en'ly tlint tli« diftina of our tin mny \m Uroken, bitt tbtl 
 ilivy limy be htkm iff. It ii|>|>«Hir« to lito tlmt th«ni it 
 IIm tritu Mvtlioili^t riitg ftlwiit my taut. Boiua of oni 
 frieiKii my, "Yv, tliu uhnin* ar* broken, but ttiun th« 
 fniKiiiwnt« Ar« Iwft; tbem nr* iin'a rttiimiiii." Am I to 
 csiiriy itioiit) brok(*n flhnini with mc to tho gravi t Am 
 I nuvur to \m rri*tHl frtim Ui«raf I tiim't lik« th«m. 
 Whim I try to H^jlit, ihuy wuigb i)uwti my htiiitl* ; whtm I 
 try to run, thuy cUnj? ttrouml my 1«ki» ; Ciwy fliuK \m <lown 
 A^ttin tnd aKiiiii. I wiiih I ctHiIil Im anlirfly f^m, I 
 loiiK for it. C'lin it not bt f Thwro urn •*nm of our fri«inli» 
 who my, " No ; you muHt ( nrry th«ii« broken oliftiim with 
 you to your gnivt»." I wiy, I don't hktf that. What *m Uit - 
 thnt Ciirist cumiot utivu uh from ? U it tho lovo of the ^ 
 worlii ? Oh IK) I for " if any iniin love the worhl, tlus luv0 * 
 of tho Father it not in him." Widl, then, is itnuilitiof ' 
 No; for "if ye foi^jivo not men their tre»j>iuiii'S, Tleither * 
 will yt»ur Fiithcr f»»rHivo your tpH|inHoei.** Well, then, is 
 it priile ? No ; for J' prkh? gool h U'loio «h'«tructioii." I 
 u.«k, Who is to Huvn mu from all \Mom) i\uiv^i\ i and the 
 nn»\vt»r iH, ChriMt. What I 1 Huy ; can ChriHt mive !»»■ from 
 llieHi) ^reut hiiih, iiikI are there Monie Ultlt* onuA He cannot' 
 ■avo me trom 7 Can He tear up the stalwart oak, and uut 
 
 # 
 
 •f 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 -—- ■ ^#--- 
 
 .^•- 
 
 ■MM* 
 
'\ 
 
,ir 
 
 ■;t-^.'. 
 
 cable, «nd not 
 has " laid help 
 to save to 
 
 iao ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 ''( the tender sapljng ? Can He snap the 
 Wreak the siuall cords ? No ! no ! God 
 upon One that is mighty;" and ''He is able 
 the uttermost all that come uMo God by Him." 
 
 *' Let others liug their chains, 
 For $iii and Satan plead, 
 And 8»y, from sjn's remains 
 
 .- ' .'' -.," ■ They never cajn be freed : _j ■>-.- - •; . ' "^- ■ ' .,-. 
 
 Bejoice in hope, rejoice with me, 
 We shall from all bur sins be free." . , /^ 
 
 God grant it may be so to-night. "Who gave Himself for 
 us, that He might deliver us ijrom all iniquity." 
 
 And tJien it says, " And' petrify unto liimself a peculinr 
 peoph." ^ To deliver us from lall sin, and then not to fling 
 us out ind leave us as a mob, but to gather us into one, to 
 separate us unto Himself! [ndnk of this. Christ came 
 to be the head of a new patty. That party has a great 
 many distinctions, and yet it is only one.-4.Ch|rist's party 
 is not divided in that sensej We have but one Head, 
 That Head is Christ. He gave Himself for us that He: 
 might separate us to Himsejf. Yes! we may talk about 
 Luther ; we hiay talk about Calvin ; we may talk about ' 
 AVesley ; we may talk about "tVhitefield ; but Christ is the 
 head of His body, and Christ's naihe is above all othw 
 names. We lower our reginiental fliigs wh^ we comB 
 under the Eoyal Standard. So we do here. .Christ is tli0 
 head! Christ is the head ! I hear some of our friends, 
 when they are in the warmth of their love and zeal, say they 
 Ate willing to have '^ Methodist " written upon their coatl 
 backs. Well, I don't know but that, if it would do an)J 
 good, I shonld be willing as far as that is concerned tdi 
 have Methodist written upon mine ; but I say to our friends,! 
 Take care, if you have Methodist written upon your^coait, v 
 that it is upon your week-day coat. There are some folk \ 
 who have it written upon their Snnday best, but if you ate 
 
 l- 
 
,! r: 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 lai 
 
 
 to have Methodist written on your coat at all, have it on the 
 coat in which you play with youi* children; have it on the 
 coat in which you buy and sell. Let it be on the coat in 
 which you ride in a railway carriage, and in which you do 
 your business, and mingle in society; and if you have not 
 your Methodism written on your week-day coat, brush it 
 off your Sun,day best, and wait until you can have it on all, 
 ^or else it will do more harm than good. But there is a 
 j5an»e better than that— the name of Jesus itself — written 
 on the forehead and in the heart. Brethren, is JesUs' 
 rfame on your heart, and on your forehead ? I do not ask 
 you whether you are Methodists; there is something far 
 high^ than thaU I do not ask you to which regiment you 
 belong ; but I ask you, I)o you belong to the army ? I 
 not ask you which name you bear; but are you loyal 
 the King, who gave Himself for us, tliat He might 
 
 to 
 
 separate us to Himself as a peculiar people? Brethren, 
 
 can you say to-night— 
 
 M 'Xis Jemis, the First and the Last, 
 /' Whose Spirit shall guideus safe home; 
 
 :/':., ..We'll praise Him for all thiit is i>ast, 
 / And trust Him for all that's to come " t 
 
 Can you say^'— 
 
 " To me that bleeding love of His 
 Shall ever precious bo ! 
 Whatever He tdt)thers is, ' 
 He's all in alFto me " f, . 
 
 God give you grace to say itt 
 
 " Separate to Himself a peculiar people." He is the 
 Master, and we are the servants. He givea the cjmmands, 
 and we obey them. We walk in His ways, and breathe 
 His Spirit. We copy His example, and become every day 
 more like Him ; and in a wicked world a man that does 
 this must be peculiar. The man that is most like Christ 
 w ill be, iTioat peculiar. W ould to God w e w ere all more 
 
 y 
 
 -^\ . 
 
 JU 
 
r 
 
 lai- 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 .>v 
 
 -S^. 
 
 peculiar I Ah, my friends, some of us have got so neat 
 the world that we hardly know whether we are in the 
 Church or not! Come nearer to Christ. Bo like Him. 
 Drink into His Spirit. Copy His example. Then it shall . 
 be well with thee. 
 
 " A peculiar people, zealous of good works." Yes, they 
 are delivered from evil ; they are drawn to Christ ; and 
 now they are to be like Christ, going about doing gOod. 
 Not jiist doing good works, but glad to do them. There is 
 an impelling power in a Christian that won't let him be 
 idle. My young friends, was not the very fir.-,t impulse of 
 your renewed heart an impulse to work for Christ ? When 
 y.ou were brought to the Saviour you did not want ar>y- 
 ' body to teir you to go and do good works. We talk about 
 ,.>. the enthiisiasm of the young Christian. Why do' we talk 
 •about his enthusiasm ? Uccanse he is apt to be surrounded 
 T by a lot of icebergs, that threaten to freeze him to 
 death- But, brethren, if we were to keep our original 
 . enthusiasm, and 'grow in this grace, as well as in others, 
 depend, upon it the world would soon feel the effect. Let 
 »; a man pome to Christ, and he will follow Christ's example. 
 Some people seem to be separated to Christ, but they are 
 jiot zealojis for good works. They are zealous for frames 
 and feelings : they are exceedingly anxious to be hajjpy. 
 They go allbut asking somebody tornake them happy, and 
 then, as they say, they want to sit and sing themselves, 
 away to everlasting bliss. It is only selfishness all this. 
 Christianity makes a man care more about, being useful 
 than being happy. ' • . .. 
 
 If I have Christ in my heart, then I shall have a 
 sympathy with the perking about me^ and I shall be 
 willing to make any, and every, sacriHce -in order to save 
 them. " Zealous for good works." Tluitvis just" what we 
 want now. Why should there be zeal lot >vorldly objects 
 and apathy in the Church? Why should politicians be 
 
ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 laj 
 
 lfcealou8,and the Church be apathetic ? Why should^ men 
 of busiiiesa be zealous, and the Church be cold? I ask. 
 Why should those who engage in our moral and social 
 movements all be energetic and we apathetic ? We have 
 fire everywhere else, and we want tire. in the Church. 
 " Zealous for good works." The type of the Christian is a 
 man going to God and asking Him, « What wilt Thou 
 '^ve me to do?" I had a capital illustration of this on 
 jDhristmas morning. One of my customs— and it is a 
 custom that has been blessed to my soul— is that of 
 preaching before breakfast on Christmas morning. I 
 always do it. arid have always had a blessing. On the 
 last occasion I noticed a gentleman sitting in the chapel 
 with whose face I w^ not familiar ; and I thouj^ht by 
 his expression that tfe was a German. We got thn.ugh 
 the service, and were blessed with the p;esenc^ of Gods 
 Spirit. Tlie next morning that gentleman sent for me, 
 . I went to him, and foftnd that he was a Churchman, but 
 had been attracted by the early morning service ; and while 
 standing in the chapel the Holy Spirit had shown him his 
 siiis ; and he had gone away from that place feeling he was a 
 bondsman and a slave. "Oh." he said, " I wish I could have 
 met with some Methodists who would have taken me down 
 
 ■ to Oldham Street love-feast, for I did not know what to do. 
 " 'Wl^le others were happy all that Christmas Day I was in 
 
 my bedroom pleading with God to have mercy upon me ; 
 
 ■ and at last, thanks be to His name ! He heard my prayer, 
 and He delivered me, and now I have sent to you, and 
 wish to tell you first what God has done ; and in the next 
 plac^ tUat, having obtained 4eliverapce myself. I fe^l I 
 must set to W)rk to help others, for I have already lost a 
 
 go(»d deal of time." < 
 
 If he had repeated twent))!' catechisms ta me he could 
 not liave more thotoujijily convinced me of his Christianity 
 tliaii by> that practical confession of his creed. He told 
 
 ^^■■'':^: 
 
 m 
 
 j-v^ 
 
 7% 
 
124 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 ^ 
 
 nie that his great danger was in the direction of strong 
 drink. I did not say a word about drink in my sermon; 
 but the Holy Spirit had been ait work, and- had convinced 
 him that, if necessary, he must out off his right arm, and . 
 tljat he musfc now care for others who were suffering like 
 him. ; It was then only ten o'clock, and he told me that 
 he had 'sent for me to tell me that be 'had already invited 
 eVeiy drunkard in Gheetham Hill to breakfast on New 
 
 , Year's. morningj in order to have an opportunity of talking 
 to them, and of trying to save them. I felt that was the 
 right thing.. The man was going to work. He_ had a 
 sympathy with those wfjq were down, and now, he himself 
 having' been raised up, he was determined to exert himself • 
 
 .,011 behaff of those iii bondage. He told me that he had ^ 
 been ,.pn the verge of hell, but now seemed to be at the 
 'pfortal of heaven. About sixteen men were brought 
 together at his invitation, that I might talk to them. 
 He occupied the Chair^ and told them that he had invited 
 them that he mighi tell them what God had done for 
 bini on Christmas morning. He said :— " I was a slave. 
 I went to God's house ; and there I heard th6 words of 
 
 ;ioV6 and mercy. I saw rtiy sin, and I saw my danger, and 
 1 saw what there was before me;, but saw likewise how 
 willing Christ was to save me, and I went to Him, and, 
 blessed be His name! He has saved me. And Bb who has 
 saved me is willing and. able to save anybody, and I just 
 tell y0u this; and now I leave it with Mr. Garrett to talk 
 
 • aboutHlte" way." ^ * '" ' 
 
 '. This cire which he showed for the afflictions of others 
 was" just. the result of his Christiai^ity,' and just What we . 
 are anxious to see evinced ifi the case ol: all those who 
 are brought to Christ; no longer asl6ep, but awake; no ,' 
 longer slaves, Jjjut Tree, and their whole being dedicated, 
 tMitod^and to good works— body, sbuJ. and spirit entirely 
 
 
 
 \ consecratfed on the altar to ' the service of Him who 
 
 ■I 
 
 

 
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 ^MAZ yOR GOOD WORKS. 
 
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 .'»■■: 
 
 refleems (is. This is the want of London. For my 
 part, J- wonder how some of you good folk keep your 
 religion at all here; It is bad enough iii my town, but 
 I have thanked God again and again to-day that my life has 
 not been cast in London. Unless you keep the holy 
 tire burning, I dont know what is to save you. ainidst 
 influences so adverse, and with so many things tending to 
 "destroy your spirituality; 80 many things calculated' to 
 
 ■ take you from your Bible, and from your closet^ and from 
 communion \v^th God,. If you don't mind, the tire will go 
 out, and there will only be left an altar with some smoking 
 embers instead of the bright flame which used to burn there. 
 We want men to be zealous for good works, and not so fre- \ 
 quently to hem*, " I pray thee hjive me excused," when we go 
 to tiiem, to ask for their symi>athy and,aid. I have gone 
 
 ^ before now to a man of this class, and have asked him how the 
 -♦S^uflday schooris getting on in their place, and he has said,. 
 ■4 >^* Well/ r don't know much about the Sunday school ; that 
 
 * is not just in my line ; Mr. So-and-So will be able to tell 
 you about' that,' as it is quite a bobby with him." "Well, 
 
 • then," I have said, "hdw is the Tract Society getting on ?" 
 " Well, I am not quite sure- whether we hq,ve a Tract Society 
 now." " Oh, indeed ! well, ' how is your Band of Hope ? " 
 "Well, I "don't just see 'eye to eye 'with you on the 
 
 ' temperance question.'' Ah, this ,is not being zealous for 
 
 ■ «»ood works! I thinH we have a right to expect a man to 
 - be zealous for some good woirks. I can forgive a man if he 
 
 i3^l|)uring in one department, while I devote my energies 
 to another. I can -do with ■^anything rather than this do- 
 nothingism. We want Cdriitijins to work, every man 
 lool^ng after his neighbour's welfare.' How can a woman 
 be better' employed than in visiting and telling other 
 wo%en of Christ ? If our young girls went out seeking 
 to%rin other young girls; and if our men of business," 
 
 and out young, men, went out, and lent thyr influenc e 
 
 ':^ -J:^ 
 
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^ ■* i*v K '" kA'*'^-i"' *** 
 
 (:, 
 
 «'■■■ 
 
 .. .. ^ 
 
 126 
 
 / 
 
 ZEAL FOR GOOD WOAKS. 
 
 to win other men of business and other youn^ men, 
 ftnd to bring them in, the Church would marvellously 
 .increase^ ' * 
 
 The other day 1 was at a rrfil way station with a friend, 
 and looking at a couple of engines. AS we were talking, 
 tlui engine-drivpr eame up, and I remarked, "We have just 
 been admiringHhe engines ; very splendid ones they are, I 
 should think they are jiist alike." The man looked at me ; 
 significantly. " Yes ;- they are much alike outside, but that 
 one there has no tire burning, and it cannot ^pven mov« 
 itself; bjat this one here has the fire burning and the steam' 
 up, and I am just going to jump upon it, and you will se^ • 
 it run ftway with tlie whole train behind it." Well, I 
 thought, tSiere is just that difference between the formalist *^ 
 and the, true Christian, The fbrnalist is to all appearance * 
 a splendid' engine ; but there is no Hre, and th6 steam is 
 not up. The Christian may not be so poWerfuJ-looking » 
 or so showy, but then the fire is burning, and the steam 
 
 ■■'■■■ li"?' 
 
 is up; and while the one cannot help liimself^ tlue other 
 
 * will by his zeal affect a whole .neighbourhood. Oh, if 
 we go away with a holy lire burning/and with this zeal go 
 into our warehQuses, and worl^shops, and barracks, and to 
 
 ^ our professions, telling of the dear Saviour we liave 
 found, we shall soon see a marvellous change in M*^thod- 
 
 u ismi, and a new life enkindled throughout the uijiversal 
 Church.' ■■ r. ■■ ■;;,.. ^ ■ ■ ■ > ' ■ ' • ■>• . 
 
 I have only t<J ask you. Has the text been accomplished, 
 in your case ? Brother, Christ has done His part ; have 
 you done yours ? Christ has given Himself for you. , Bear 
 with me for a nioment. I would begin with our dear young' : 
 friends here, and ask them. You, my brother, and you, my I, 
 sister, are you delivered frbim sin ? Are you deliverecl, or 
 are you a slav^ to-night ? Brother, if* tie eiid 'should come " 
 
 ' — to - night, I ask, what is th e r e b e fore yon for th e mon'6w I 
 
 : ' 
 
 'I 
 
 I was iu Cornwall a fortnight since, when that terrible 
 
 / 
 
 \ . ■ 
 
( 
 
 i 
 
 
 ZJ2AL POR GOOD WORKS. 
 
 127 
 
 
 tfccitlent happdiied at Camborne. You remember tho3c young 
 gills ^ybo were suffocJfed at Dr. Smith's factory. Most 
 of thope young girU* belonged to ,'us. ' Two of them 
 . belonged to. the choir. On Good Friday they liad been in ' 
 their place in the singing-pew; on Saturday ^hey joined 
 /' another choir" up higher. One of thero, when she canie out 
 ' of chapel, ^ent up to Miss S^iith, and said, "Oh, Miss 
 Smith, !j feel as happy as if TwevQ in heaven I'* God had' 
 saved her, only tiie week before : she little thought that' 
 nt'Xt'day she. would be in heaven. Ah, we know not what 
 a day jnuy bring iorth !- Grey hairs w411 not be a crown of 
 glor^i t^ us all. It is o.f lio use to conceal it, that>8ome of 
 you "^ early life will pass away. But oh, to feel that 
 one's name js written in heaven, nitd to be able to say, ^s ;, 
 Matthew Mead said when dying, " I have done my .day's 
 work, and I am going home, as every honesf luanouj^it to, 
 do when his wprk is done ; and, thank God, I have a good , 
 honie to go to'l''' There is w) sting then. ' Brethren, are you 
 delivered from sin ? does passion conquer ^ou ? does appetite 
 conquer yoit? does ambitioii coriquer you? does envy conquer 
 you ? does lust conquer you ? Is the bojid upon your soul 
 to-night, my brothei? ' If so, cry to God for help, and help 
 will conil. Thank God, you may be saved now, you may be 
 ' saved while I ^peak. . If you are willing to be saved on 
 God's terms, thep I offer you a full and free salvation. Do 
 I hear some of you say, as' poor Itobert- Burns said when hia 
 was told this, ." It is too |;ood to be true; it is too good^ 
 to be true '' ? Is there some one who has come in here, whi 
 hds spent a life of thirty or forty yearS,-^and whois saying, 
 " Do yoii mean that the sins of a. lifetime can be pardoiied . 
 in a moment ?" Well, I. do mcAu that, I, do lueafi Jihat. 
 «VAb," you say, "that istoo'easy a way." Too easy, Wher, 
 • too easy ? I l^as standing the otlier day down at, we fdbt ; 
 ,of the Blackstone-edge, and I looked at that hill as ijt rose ui 
 
 "% ■- 
 
 A ■ ■ W ' _■ J ^ 
 
 between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Now, su^oser some- 
 
 i 
 
 s . 
 
 a,-^.. 
 
'^i '•' 
 
 ya$ 
 
 ZEy4L FOR GOOD WORKS, 
 
 .^ 
 
 body had put us th«ro fifty years ago, apd had said, "Go 
 through that hill in five minutes." You^ould have said, 
 "Five minutes i No, liot in five minutes, nor five hours, 
 nor five days;. nobody ever went through that hill, and 
 nobody ever can". Bttt wait, wrtit till the line is pro- 
 jected, wait till the navvies come, .wait till they with their 
 
 'slrong arms scoop out the tunnel; wait till the lines are 
 laici down, wait till the locomotive is formed/ and now, ' 
 as it comes puffing lip, jumjf in, and you are through in 
 fiye minutes. You see how this is. All the hard work' 
 was done before you got there, and just so it is with our 
 getting to hiBaven. Thank God, the hard work was done 
 long ago I It is now etjsy for you, my brother. It was 
 hiird for JiBsus: He gave Himself jor you. Look at His 
 agony; see Him sweat great drops of blood; see Him in 
 tile garden crying. Brother, sister, is it^too easy ? Thank 
 God, it is finished! and now "to him that worketfi 
 not, but believeth,'* his faith is accounted to him for 
 
 ■ righteousness," Qh, believe in His dignity, believe His 
 infinite merits ! Before you go to the cross, go and 
 stand before His throne; and theo, as you gaze on the 
 
 . cross, you will understand wliat the poet m^aut when he* 
 said — 
 
 " Were'nll the sins that men have done 
 Since worlds were made and time begun, 
 In will and word, and^)thonght and deed, ^ 
 
 Laid on one guilty sinner's head, 
 The blood of Chi ist, that crimson sea, '. 
 „W*ould take the guilt of all a^way." 
 *■ 
 
 G(»d help .us Xo believe it I 
 
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 A- 
 
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 ■- --^— : ■- ■ ':- ^^ TJTE NJSW 'sOJ^^,r^:---^----^---^.r^^^^ 
 
 . " f "'J Jiafll^d, and, lo, a ^mti Hf,nml OlUheMountlgjoii, and with Him an " 
 hundred forty andXsur thousand, having Hia JIftther'Baaine written on H.^j r 
 loialJt'ad8. And jjieard 4 voice from lieavcn.^as the voice of many waters 
 and Mthe voice of a great thunder : and I ^learT tlie voice of harpere harpini 
 with their harps : and t hey Ban g as it were ajuj^jaaug before the throne, and 
 before the four beasts, and thp elders : and n^ man could learn that son .F but 
 the hundred and forty and fouf thousand.^hlch were reieemod from tU ^ 
 earth. "r-RBV, xiv. 1-8. . . . • 
 
 rriHERlii are very few of ua that set anything like 
 X a right estimate upon the Bible. . We have it 
 beautifully bound. We. give-^to those we love best; 
 we form societies^ contribute our money, and send it. to" 
 others, an,d yet I say there are? very few who set a right 
 estimate upon it. But What should we do without It? 
 Have y-ou ever-asked yoijffself that question ? if not, ask it 
 now. Forget what I am going to say, and look that 
 question straight in the face— what should We do without 
 the Bible ? Shut up the Bible, and shut up with it all the 
 light which has been borrowed from it, and what do we 
 know that is worth knowing? .What do we know about 
 ourselves? what do we know about the hisioiy of the 
 world in whiclvwe are |)Jaced ? what do we know about 
 God, and pur relalbionship to God ? what do we know 
 about the future? Take any of those questions. Take 
 the last : tbe future. Shut up the ^ible,. and shut up. 
 with it all the light, I repeat, which is borrowed from it, \ 
 and what do we know about the future? Qnr f allow 
 
 ?/'« 
 
 4 
 
 
■.^. 
 
 Y; 
 
 ■'-^'. 
 
 .V. 
 
 :m- 
 
 130 
 
 THE NEW SONG, 
 
 travellers arc torn from our side, but it is an unseen hand, 
 that seizes them, and it is an unknown land to which 
 they are conveyed. Generation after generation have stood 
 on the dusky borders of the grave, and as they hove looked 
 into its dark depth they liave sobbed out, " Man dieth and 
 Wasteth away, yea, man giveth up the yhost," and "where 
 is he ? " The mother us she has folded the little arms of 
 him of whom she had said, " This same shall comfort mo ; " 
 ttnd the widow, when she has taken her last look at the 
 manly face, have joined in the same sad ciy, "Where is 
 he ? " There is something gone ; it is that something I 
 loved; this is but the rifled casket, tl»e jewel is gone, and 
 " Oil, where is he ? " Men appealed to philosophy, and 
 philosopliy, Vy otie «f l>er ablest sons has said, " Whether it 
 be better to live or die we cannot tell." Men appealed to 
 science, and it confessed it was baffled. Men appealed to 
 reason, and reason by the mouth of Kr. Ilolyoake in that 
 sad, sad book, the Logic of Death, has said, "There is 
 nothing before me but a black- impenetrable curtain, and I 
 am as one that shouteth into a chasm : I hear nothing but 
 the echo of nly own Voice." And is that all we are to have 
 instead of the Bible ? — a black impenetrable curtain, and a 
 chasm in which we hear nothing but the sound of our own , 
 voices! Miserable comforters are they. all [ I turn to the 
 Book, and all is clear. Life and immortality are brought to 
 light. Men die as Vhey died before, but we -sorrow not as 
 they sorrowed before. With this Book in my hand I can 
 go to- the valley and flood it with light: I can watch my 
 comrade, as Ke grapples with his last enemy, and cornea off 
 more than conqueror : I can see him ^ as,, lightened of his 
 earthly load, he wings his way upward amidstrthe hosannahs 
 of the sky. And as John Buhyan says: "When I hear 
 the h^irpers harping and, bells ringing, I wish that L were 
 with themf - V 
 
 Yes, thank God for the Bible! God is not only our 
 
 .:-^:h 
 
 -w- 
 
 r::.::^^':-rK 
 
 /■ 
 I 
 
 .■^■■'■:t-. 
 

 *■■' V 
 
 
 THE NEW SONG. 
 
 iji 
 
 King, but our Father; Ho has a loving hcnrt as well as an 
 oiunipotont arm ; niid because Ho lov^d^iis Ho lifted that 
 " black inipenetrablo curtciin." It was tlown before, but' it 
 is not down now, and Cod grant that M»s Holyonke may 
 soon see it lifted, and catch a glimpse of the -glory \ God 
 raised that curtain, riiilosophy could not do it ; Science 
 could not do it; Keason could not do it; but God coUld. 
 and having raised it, He let St. John look. Wltot a look 
 that^as : It Was a representative look, a la^k for nil men, 
 in affages. You remember the angels said, "Seal not the 
 eayings of the prophecy of this book;" that was,"! do 
 not let you look for yourself alone, go and teir it' everyi 
 .where. I^t all men know that there i.s a glorious home 
 prepared for them beyond the grave." " And I loolied/'said 
 John. Would that we could hear his words ns for Uie.lirst 
 time! We have l)oconie so used to hear about hcavetTlhat 
 the very word has lost a great deal of its beauty and hiusio. 
 It is like the coin from which the impression has been worn 
 off. " I looked, and/lo, a "Lamb stood on Mount Zion." 
 Here we have John the Jew using tlie Jewish i^a. To 
 the Jew, Mount/2ion was the joy^of the whole earth; and 
 when John loj>lced he could think of no words, sol expressive 
 as "Mount Zion>" to describe the glorious, pla^ he saw, 
 Ha seems to say, "I have heard Jesus Wak of— ' My 
 FatHerV house ; ' and now I saw ••its gldry,ahd Christ was 
 the^ing, for, 'lo, the Lamb/'' You and I were listening 
 something about our lost loved' ones ; but Jesus is^Jirst in 
 time, and first in eternity. You Cannot see the stars, when 
 the sun Js shining, nor the creature, wheft the King is tliere. 
 John says, '* I knew Him^ well, I have laid upon His bosom, 
 and loved Him with a love that passeth that of a woman. 
 1 saw men brand Hilla^jis an impostor, and cast Him out as 
 not fit to live, and I^aw Hjm as the heavens received Him 
 out of otir sight. Long years have passed 8|irce>then ; bnfc 
 
 \ 
 
r*^ 
 
 I3fl THE MEW SONG. ^J 
 
 have often wondered where and when T fthnutd aeo Him 
 again." Then the curtnin wus r«use<l, and He wus there '. 
 " High o'er the nngelic bands He rears His once dishonoured 
 head." He i» tl»o King of Olory. " Lo, the Lamb." 
 
 "And with Him the redeemed." The sainted dead were 
 there. John had heard Him say, " I go to prepare a place 
 for you ; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will cpme 
 again and receive you unto Myself, tliat where I am there you 
 may be also." And now the yturs have jmssed, and John's 
 companions one by one liave died, and he is left tt tottering 
 old man, wondering what had become of those lost ones ; 
 but when the curtain was raised they were there. They 
 were not in purgatory, having the sins burnt ofif that 
 the blood of Christ could not ^rase. ' They had 
 
 *■ ■ \ ■■..'■■■ ■' 'a 
 
 " Washod their rob«i % f»Uh Ulow, • 
 
 In the blootl of yonder Lamb, 
 
 The blood that waiihea white aa anew," ' 
 
 ' ' ■ i 
 
 and therefore they were there. S(wne hadi come from thi^ 
 stake, and some from tfie deep sea, but they were all s^e 
 in heaven. "And with Him the redeemed, having the^r 
 Father's name written on their foreheads." Their denomina- 
 tional names were ajl gone. On earth they had worn th& 
 regimentcds of their various regiments, but the war was over, 
 and they had left the regimentals behind them— they were 
 children at^^home, with their Father's name upon their^ 
 foreheada There they stand round the Lamb, all the 
 excrescences and frailties gone, all like their Father, a^ 
 all getting more like Him to all eternity. " Their Fath^t 
 name upon their foreheads." v =iM • :# 
 
 __ What w«e they doing ? John says fliey Were singing. 
 You know when you parted tliere was the sob, tJie sigh, and 
 tear, but when you meet again there will be the smile, and 
 th e s ong. "And I heard them," sa y s John . Ye s , heaven la 
 
 •K 
 
 ■less 
 
 r 
 
 f 
 
 ■a'.'ife 
 
 not a ^orio!|| solitude ; it is full of happy people. John 
 
 _i^_ 
 i 
 
 V 
 
 .Xi: 
 
%^\^ 
 
 r ! ' •« 
 
 M^. 
 
 " ~ '<^sfe 
 
 1 r 
 
 i 
 
 ,:vj:^ 
 
 jy/i? NEW SONG. 
 
 heard the iion^, and trios to <!eiicribo it. lie says, •• It was 
 like titu Buutid of many wut4>rH^, " nothing could be mure 
 expressive. You have stood upcXi the sea-shore in a storm 
 «nd haVo heard the waves uf tlie \y\ as they have lilted up 
 their voice ; hoM^jill the voices of humanity wore drowned 
 in its thunderin;^' hoom. John was on an island, arid had 
 jofiift htard it find catching up the Iden he said the singing 
 
 *' Was as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a 
 great thunder," — all exprcHsive of the rangnitudo of the 
 Hound of the ontheni of the rodeetned. And can ybu not 
 understand it ? I think I can. Is it not true that every 
 man who is going'to heaven thinks ho will have more 
 r«3a8on to proise God than anybody else ? If I hoafd one 
 of you give yoiMT l^perience, and saying you owed more to 
 <jod than anyl^ody, I should say, "Ho does not know my 
 history." Whik if I were to speak of niy experience you 
 ■would sa^y, " Ah ! ho doesn't know mo." Wo are all 
 miracleft of grace, and as we pass through the gates into the 
 city, " wonder and joy shall tuije our hearts, and love 
 command our tongues." No wonder that the song is like 
 the sound of many waters. "And I heard the voice of 
 harpers harping." Does not that teach that humanity will 
 fiot be altogether merged in the angelic in heaven ? that 
 man will be distinct from all other beings to all eternity ? 
 The angels will all be there, but if \ were to iiieet with 
 Oabriel I could not sing with him, nor he with me; there 
 would not bo much in commoa with -da. He has never. 
 wept ; never suffitfted ; never sinned ; the iron never entered 
 his soul ; he never looked down into ' tfea grave of the 
 beloved, or at the cold, pale face ; never writhed in the 
 furnace, nor cried, " What must I do to be saved ? " But if 
 I met you there, we could sing together. "V^e have wept the 
 flame tears, uttered the same cry for help, and could sing 
 the same psalm of triumph. The angels, are there to play 
 
 • 
 
 % 
 
«34 
 
 THE NEW SONG. 
 
 angels for ever Bervante, but men for ever sons. "And 
 they sang as it were a new song." Of course they did. 
 The old songs would not do ; but does ndf^yery word teach 
 us that the saints sing on their way to heaven, and that 
 when they get through the ga^e they change their song ? I 
 wish some people would read their Biblea again — some good 
 people. They seem to Vead in it that they should go to 
 heaven- with sighing; my Bible says it is with songs, and, 
 depend upon it, you are not glorifying God by the sighing 
 but by the song. " Th<§ men of gracp have found glory begun 
 below." We have a foretaste of heaven before we get there ; ' 
 but when we pass through the gate our joy will be full, and 
 our pleasures for evermore. 
 
 What do we know about the song ? Not ^very much» 
 bat thank God we know something. I am no n/ystery-' 
 monger, I have neither time nor talent for it. I leav§ that 
 till I get to heaven. Here my hands are full of work ; I 
 
 ' cannot go into by-paths lest in the meantime a soul may 
 be lost. I leave the myst«ri^us,pait of my text, and take 
 that about which there is no mystery, and, taking it, pray 
 that it may comfort and strengthen our soids. What do 
 we know about the song ? 
 
 JF%r8^, We know that the song which, the redeemed sing 
 is marked bj the absence of much that they sang on earth. 
 That is certain. We know what they sang here; we have 
 
 , their song-book, and as we turn over the leaves, every page 
 is full of blessed pcmories. A glorious thing is our song- 
 book,— ^the Church never had a better one, — but glorious 
 as it is, it will not do for heaven. I open it and- there I " 
 -" Hymns for mourners convinced of sin," but there 
 
 see- 
 
 are no such people in heaven ; " Hymns for believers fight- 
 ing," but there . is no sound of war there; "Hymns for 
 believers suffering,*' but there are no sufferers there. I 
 turnover the pages of this hymn-book and say, " Blessed 
 book, thou shalt be my conxpanion in' the house of my 
 
 ► 
 
 \ -.» \ 
 
 \. 
 
 (I II 
 
THE NEW $ONG. 
 
 X3S 
 
 ► 
 
 ■ \. 
 
 pilgrimage; but I shall leave thee at the pearly gate and 
 V sing a new song there." 
 
 Here we sing in character; for instance, here we are 
 strangers, and as strangers we sing ; here we are travellers, 
 and as travellers we sing ; here we are warriors, and as 
 warrjors we sing; here we are sufiferers, and as sufiferers we 
 sing. Look at it a moment. 
 
 Here we are <S55ra»i^ers, and as strangers we sing. Ee- 
 member I am now talking to God's children, and not to 
 sinners. We are strangers ;>4iJii8 is not our home. Wo 
 have a home beyond. Sometimes we are foolish enough 
 to try and make this earth our home. We adorn, decorate, 
 beautify it ; we build our nest and make it perfect, and in 
 the foolishness of our heart we say '-it is good for us to be 
 here ;" but as soon as we have finished it, God breaks up 
 the nest, and then our eyes turn heavenward.* We our- 
 selves do not want our children to love some other place 
 better than home. I have children away from hom& If 
 they wgre to write to me to-mprrow, and say "Dear 
 father, I don't want to come home. I am a great deal 
 happier where lam," I don't think I should ever preach 
 again; I believe toy heart "wrould break. So it is with our 
 '. ♦I'ather in heaven. SH us too much to let us make 
 
 ' our home - here, and sp when the nest is broken and our 
 hopes cut off, we look homeward, and sing— 
 
 *' Thou dhiepberd of Israel and luine^ 
 The joy and. desine of my heart, . 
 , ^ For closer communioh I pine, 
 
 I long to reside where Thou art." 
 
 This is a glorious verse, but it is not a. verse ouiof the 
 , New So^g ; for there we shall be with Him^ to part no 
 more. ' . . 
 
 Here we are Traveller's^ ^lid as travellers we sing. The _^ 
 J ' journey to heaven is rough, Andx thppny. 'It is a great \^ 
 mistake tp think we>MC!an get there easily, ^pu cannot get 
 
 
 i ' ^•' 
 
 (I II 
 
 •M-^ 
 
y- 
 
 136 
 
 V 
 
 THE NEW SONG. 
 
 to heaven in those silver slippers we hear men speak about; 
 but God has promised us, " Thy shoes shall be of iron and 
 tof brass." God knew the road was rough, and He made 
 provision accordingly. Sometimes it is very steep — I am 
 talking now to pilgrims — it is such hard work to rise, 
 and there are a thousand influences wljich try to drag us 
 back. But you struggle on and cry, "Lord help me." 
 When you reach the summit of that height there is still 
 another " alp upon alp," and the devil says, " Give it up, 
 yon will never reach your home ; " but wej;ake up the Book 
 and sing— 
 
 And view the landscape o'er, 
 Not Jordan's stream nor death's cold flood 
 Should fright me frcm the shore." 
 
 That is a glorious verse, out of a glorious hymn, but 
 I shall not sing it in heaven. v 
 
 Here we are ?Famors, and as warriors we sing: and here 
 I want to speak a word or two very slowly that you may 
 not forget it.— You can be a Methodist without fighting, 
 but you cannot be" a Ghristian. ^Oh, yes, you can be a 
 Methodist ; get your ticket, and ineet or not me.et in class; 
 take your 'seat and. go on, but -never fight -with your own 
 bad temper, or covetousness, or evil propensities, and be just 
 as bad, or a bit worse, at the end, than wh^n you started. 
 It is not so with Christians, thfey must fight, or fall ; yet 
 there ..are some foolish people who directly they find them- 
 selves in the battlefield fancy they are not 8oldiers--^and 
 only in times of peace dare to claim the name. Thd devil 
 has let them alone for years, and they are satisfied, but as 
 soon as hell throws its 'gates open they'SJiy, "I am afraid,"" 
 and become deserters. J was a short titne ago standing by 
 the side oj some penitents in Liverpool, when one great 
 strapping fellow came up seeking salvation^ He had a hard 
 struggle. Tor he was a great sinner. By and by the clouds 
 
 V 
 
THE tiEW SONG. 
 
 137 
 
 'V 
 
 brpke, and the light of Ood shone upon bis soul, and .he 
 stood up holding my hand, and we sang — 
 
 "For the Lion of Judah shall break every chain, 
 And give us the victory again and j}gain i " 
 
 but all of a sudden all the sunshine went out of 'the man's 
 face. I wondered what was the matter; but he tufned tonie 
 and' said, " Oh, Mr.- Garrett, but what shall I do to-morrow V* 
 <^t was easy "to be a Christian in the chapel, with a minister 
 ling' his hand, and sympathizing friends around ; but, ah 1 
 fnlng to-mo'trmo at the dockside among his companions 
 Ehatterrified him. Many a one in this chapel if they were 
 going to die to-night would be Christians, but they tremble 
 at the thought of the' conHietl It is a hard thing to. be a 
 Christian. A soldier said to me the other day, ". It requires 
 more courage to^ be a soldier of Christ, than to be a soldier 
 of the Queen." "How is that ?" I asked; He replied, 
 " I have beert in the battlefield, and I have heard the 
 sharp click, click of the sword, and the whistle of the balls 
 as th^ rushed through the air ; I have seen my coippanions 
 fall right and left, and I never trembled ; but when I found • 
 peace, and went home to t1ie barracks that night, I trembled 
 like a child. I knew that I must kneel down in the room by , 
 the bed, and pray. There were eight other men there, and 
 when I entered you could have struck me down with a 
 feather. However I went down on my knees, and they, 
 gathered roun^. * Here's a lark,' they said, 'we're going 
 to have a prayer meeting," They threw shoes at me, and X< 
 thought every moment that I must get up and knpck one of 
 tlglm down ; but I went On night after night, and every one 
 in that room' kneels dowij now:" Yes, indeed, we have to 
 fight. You have a sharp temper, God has to\make you good 
 tempered ; you are covetous, you must be genfe*Qjis..- I do 
 not understand a maii gripping, the world as hard arif his 
 ealvatiott depended on it, and then going, home to glory. 
 
 ,5^ 
 
 9 
 
 "A 
 
m 
 
 f- 
 
 'i 
 
 «3« 
 
 ■"V 
 
 ■f 
 
 i 
 
 THE JfJiiV. SONG: 
 
 We have to -Jphl, and, thank' (aod, .we have our war 
 . .' \ song-—. ■ ':' •- . :'. ■ . ,..■/,_:/.■■;.:■/■-■;". 
 
 ^ 'f Surrounded by • host of foes, ■ , " , ■ \ 
 
 1 . , Stormfld by a host of foes within ; 
 
 ' ' * ', • * ' N^ swift to flee, p(r strong to opposci^ .. v ' » 
 
 • ■ * . Single against hell, eartl^^ and sin^— / 
 
 . ■ • Single, yet andismayed, I ant, * 
 
 > * , I dare believe in JesHs' name." ■ ' -. 
 
 Talk tibout'* into ihe.mputh of hell rode the six hundred j* 
 what is tha^ to one poor man fighting singly against earthy , 
 and h^, and sin,' and yet singing-— , * \ , 
 
 * '>. "Single, yetiindismayed, 1 am, J 
 
 I dare believe in Jesip'nami." • 
 
 That is grand, birt it is not out of the 2^^w Song. There 
 ..; is mkflound of war there. There is an, old veteran going v 
 \^tfp h^Ntta. See, he takes 'off the • helmet, and lays'* the <- 
 ihuouir aside while be cries', "I have fought a gpod fight, > 
 I have, finished my cdurse, I have kept the faith : hence- 
 \ ' forth there is laid up for me a crown which the Lord thp 
 righteous Judge will give unto me." , / 
 
 We 'are Sufferers, djo:^ as sufferers We sin^: I^ can almost 
 ■■: shout for joy when I open this hymn-book at '* Hymni? for 
 believers suffering." You can'^ot find songs for sinners 
 Bufifering L with them when sorrow comes in at the door the 
 songs go out at the window. Tha Christian is God's 
 nightingale: h^^-sings loudest when all the otljer birds ate 
 silent, and the sweetest songs from Christian lips are songs in 
 the pight. I went the other day to see a very poor old man 
 lying in bed, and 1 said, " How are you getting on ? " " Oh, . ' 
 sir," he repliedjv" God is with ^e : what T should do but . 
 for my Bible and hymn-book I don't know. At times thp 
 anguish seems to be driving me mad; an(\ I feel as if I should 
 go out of my senses ; but when I am at the worst I sing — 
 
 % "" ♦MyGod.IamThioe, .^ ■ \ 
 
 What a comfort divine, . 4 
 
 What & blessing to know that the j^aviour is-mine i ' ' 
 
 
 ■ST 
 
 ■>\, 
 
 \-^^' ' 
 
 ^' •/ 
 
 ».^ 
 
u,. 
 
 'm' 
 
 THE NE W SONG, 
 
 «39 
 
 I » 
 
 t 
 %>i. 
 
 and the spasm, of pain^ seems to* relas, end I have pet\ce 
 
 agJEiiii." 1 Could take you to a poor fellow in one of- our 
 
 English country villages who stood alone against the-squiro 
 
 'in ttying to sustain Methodism in the village.. He ..^a» 
 
 turned out of, his farm, and all his property fitold at a very 
 
 bad liipe. The morning before the sale he^^aid, "I' could 
 
 not sleep r I kept playing. It was hard work to see our 
 
 household tr<^8urea scattered, and to think. I was going to 
 
 take my wife and children out-'without a home to, go to. 
 
 At breakfast tiiW I said to ^ly wife;/ La!ss(VY^e Iftive' never 
 
 had a morning without prayer ondySingiiig^. Perhaps tbia 
 
 is the last time we shall hav^e a home of oiir own ; shall 
 
 We give it up this jnorning^? ' * No, Ave will not/" stcid she;" 
 
 and" with desolation before them, l{li.ey sang— 
 
 >^^, "'Though waves and/iitohnsgor o'er my heMl^ ; '• <f. -. ^' 
 
 TBxjugh health, aiid ^strength, »nd icienda twgpwBi ' . / 
 , Though, joys bftwithlwd all, m^ dead, v ' ^^_ \ . : 
 
 '.^.; Though evei^comfo|it4)^witlidtew*(i|''- ./ 
 
 ' •, * On this iny-stedfast 8oul.relie#— " ; » ^ 
 
 Father, Yhy^ew. never dies." ',;.' 
 
 Another glorious verse, but it is not from' the Nev? Song 
 
 .iand so I sayto thi^ volume— "Blessed ^k, thou shalt 
 
 be ;ny cgrhpanion all the wiy to hea^n, but at the pearly 
 
 gale l' shall leave thee -bfebind, and sing a new song for 
 
 Svermore.- '. ;«/ , 
 
 , ^ Second, We know Ihat. thfe New Song' will contain much 
 that we. cannot sing here. There is muchiii l^-evehitibn \^9 
 cannot' sing hera When I say •*' we,"* I use;it in the 43road 
 Christian sens^ j am talking about the army, not the 
 regiment. .If there are things in God's "V^ord about which 
 we cannot unite to sing, let us at lei^t not qtiarrel atout 
 them. Bather let us imitate the Jew,s, w^o, when they meet 
 with any difficult passage in the Old Testament, say, " We 
 "must leave that till Esaias cometh." So Jet ^is sajr, We will 
 leave it till Jesiis coines, tiirW|; heaids are ' elearer and our 
 hearts are better, and w ho* knot's b ut th at thin gs, which 
 
 'o> 
 
 S 
 
 • / 
 
 ■ * 
 
 
4 
 
 :'^ 
 
 P 
 
 f^r. . » 
 
 jli^f y 
 
 ■ 40 
 
 THE NEW. SONG. 
 
 now seein contradiotoiy,- will then be seen to be in beautiful 
 harniony with 9ne another? j^ 
 
 There is much in Providentse we cannot sing about here. 
 Ood is taking His children'to heaven in His own way, and 
 
 \ you and I do not get far. on in our journey before we get 
 perplexed and disheartened. Have you never been led in 
 dark paths/when the cry of Why ? came from your lips like 
 
 ' a spark from hell ? Why was my one flower withered, and 
 ^ J.«iRO^her's garden full left untouched ? . Why that little face 
 
 • buried, out of my sight just as its music and beauty were being 
 cli»pljiyed ? Why the bright face gone from me just when I 
 "w]i|ted its smile ? Why the strong arm smitten down when 
 I most needed its support ? Why the eloquent minister 
 silenced when the Church needed him most ? Why ? 0otl 
 only knows how bitterly that "why" came from maw^en I 
 was; stricken down myself. It haunted me like a shadow. 
 Ha,ye you hung up your harp, and said, I shall neve'v 
 be able to sing again ? — there is One looking dbwn in pity 
 who says, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou' 
 fihalt know hereafter." ^There is a New Song ther«i You 
 will never sing it here, but y^u will beyond. Ydu ^y 
 have hung up your hai-p, but you have not broken it It 
 is still there, and by and by when we pass into the city, 
 
 ~ and see whali St. John saw, we shall take down the harp, 
 and as we break forth 'into song, * 
 
 ■ " AboTs the rest this note shall swell. 
 
 My Jestls hath done all things well." ~ ,^ 
 
 I wanted.to show you that the song will be sung in a 
 new place> and in the midst (jif new company; with a new 
 nature, and a new interest ; but my time is gone, and I 
 must leave it till we hjeet above. I ask you with all the 
 ■earnestness of my soul, are you going' to heaven ? Not are 
 yoi^ a Methodist J but ate you a Christian bound for the 
 kingdom ? I do not want to know whether you have a 
 plea s ant journey. — I know you have not ; but one momgta)t 
 
 /^ 
 
 V " 
 
 
 - ■ ■■■--.■■■' 
 
 '■ ■-'"■■. ' .-• 
 
 s 
 
 
 ■ V ■ 
 
 
 , — - 
 
 T ■- 
 
 
 •: %-•:.■■■:; 
 
 - -- - - ' 
 
 
 * 
 
 '■':Wy'\ 
 
 .S-; ■ ■'.' 
 
 > ' " ■ ■ 
 
 
 1 -- - '- \',, 
 
 
 -■ ■*■ 
 
 
 
 
 ■t .' 
 
 
k. 
 
 THE NEW SONG. 
 
 ' I4t 
 
 /^ 
 
 \> 
 
 1b heaven- ^ill mak6 up for all Are you bound for the 
 kingdom ? Why should we not all go ? You heard the 
 text None can sing that song but the redeemed, the 
 delivered ones. Cod delivers His saints. The history of 
 the saints may be written in one word — ^"Deliverance.** 
 Are you go^g to heaven, and are yoii. learning this song? 
 You do not know ? Can you sin^ — ^'* Unto Him that loved 
 ua" You can? Ah! but can you sing the next — ^"and 
 washed us from our edns in His own blood " ? If so, you are 
 ^a Christian ; if jiot, you have no part nor lot in the matter. 
 
 I said it would break nijiy heait if my child said . he did 
 not want to comp home ; and do it would. Just thihk of 
 God's" sorrow. Listen to the cry that rings through the 
 universe — "0 Ephraim, what shall I .ido unto thee?" 
 Come this morning, and do not grieve Jitir God. Come 
 while the blessed Sabbath-dAy is throwing its sunshine on 
 tliy brQw, and a new light' shall brdaik upon thee, even the 
 light oi the glory of God. ^ -, 
 
 G/e(a help thee to come t God helf^thee to comie new L , 
 
 « t 
 
 1^1 
 
 
 « f 
 
 
 JL. 
 
 I / 
 
 V 
 
w!bi»±qax- 
 
 V. 
 
 ■ .«• 
 
 
 XT. 
 
 PR^PARB YE THE WAY OF THE lOltb} 
 
 ■■'. .; ■* ' 
 
 ^ "The voice of him that orieth in the Wildcrtieiw, Prepftre yejt he w»y of. 
 the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." l^vwfyAhy 
 •hall be exalted, «nd every mountain and hill shall be made low : and the 
 «rooked sball be made straight, and the rough places plain : and the glory 
 of the Lord shall-te revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the 
 inouth of the Lordi hVth spoken iV— ISA, xl. 8-6. . 
 
 IN tlje previous chapter Isaiaji had been foretelling the 
 . captivity of the Jews in Babylon. Their heatts 
 r^eeined l;o, have been weighed down by the auhouncement, 
 ^an4 dod, "who9e mercy endumth fori ever," pitied them in 
 JiheiriBom)w,ctniI commanded i«aiah jbo make a revelation 
 to them that should, cheer and encourage them ; and in 
 or^et that Isaiah might be able to do thisf-" God gave his 
 spirit strength to/sweep adown the gulf of time." He saw 
 ' Cyrus raised up, he^aw him leading the pepple across the 
 wilderness to their own land" again ; and then the prophet, 
 *s . >*'a8 his 1 wont, taking material things, to illustrare 
 spiritual one% ,af onbe began to apeak of that of which 
 tHese things-were but the type. He sees in the wild?^ess, 
 ■'i,at stretched betweeltt Babylon and Jerusalem, a type of 
 ie world ; in the Je^jS, in bpnd^e in Babylon, a type of 
 the children of men ; and in Cyrus a type of Christ; and;' 
 looking onward to our own more glorious -days, he cries, "I 
 hear a voice" (the voice of' a herald— after the custom of 
 those days when a ^©narch was about to visit any distant 
 
 * Preached at the Keiropolitan Tabprnaclo, on behalf of thaJTational 
 Temiwrance League. - . ^ ; , 'k^ 
 
 14? 
 
 .• >?■ 
 
 ■.■;/::...'■; 
 
 
 • U 
 
 
 
 • - t ■ 
 
 
 
 1 
 * 
 
 |v;.- 
 
 M 
 
 \ 
 
-*(:■■■ >■ 
 
 * •■ 
 
 ■■*• 
 
 »1 
 
 PMEPARE YE. THE WAY. 
 
 »43 
 
 ' part of hie dominions) "crying in- the wilderness. Prepare 
 ye the way of the Lord", make straight in the, desert a 
 highway for our God : for every valley shall be exalted, and 
 every Inountain and hill shall be made low: and the 
 crooked shall be made straight, %nd the ^iiglv places plain : 
 and the glory of the Lord shall bo revealed, find all flesh" 
 (hot simply the Jews^ "shall see it, together: for the 
 mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." What^^was prophecy'^ 
 to Isaiah is fact to us. We live in^ those days of jJoich 
 Xmiah spoKe ; and those words which Isaiah heard nr the 
 distafice, are spoken by the Almighty, in our owh hearing, 
 and with' referencK^ to^ our own day. Christ has appeared," 
 has set up His Kingdom amongst us, and has come to claim 
 tliejiation* for His own.. Bu£\there aro difficulties in the 
 way; There are barriers that have been thrown up, {itid 
 God commands us, by the 'mouth of Isaiah, to'gird up the 
 loins of Qur minds, and to devote ourselves to the high and 
 
 ' holy wo'rk of jremoving them ; find then He promises that . 
 kHe^ill reward us for our work, by making bare His arm, 
 and filling the world with His glory. ; .' 
 
 ■$\v%t,the text teaches us that there an certain thingis which ', 
 
 . hinder the spread of the^ Medeemer's kingdom, ftpoken of Aere •.' 
 OA valleys, hills, mountains, rough pl9ftSi and crooked uyi.ysi- 
 - 'The obstacles to the spread of the^Redtsemeifs kingdom fare 
 so nUrqerous, that I must not pven attempt to name them^ 
 but refpr,- as an illustration of what I mean, to heatihertismj 
 and idolatry, abroad, and to ignorance, and vice.'at hjome. 
 The heathenism we are trying to remove, and tha^ y^wtning 
 valley of ignorance' \^e are, by God's grace, as a' nation, 
 trying to fill. up; but otit national vices, which are like 
 ountains, we are also commanded by God to level, and 
 to remove. I want /especially to point out to you thift- 
 afternoon 0119 of tl^se. vices, whii;h is the' parent of all • 
 others— ^I mean Intemperance, A^iji^h Kinders the progrew 
 of Goi^ kingdom on ev^ry hand. 
 
 t.' 
 
 -M 
 
I . "■ 
 
 ^r:'^ 
 
 '.■ -J -■: ■. ,, ■ * . . ' . 
 
 ■ . ■ ' • ■•• -^*■^ ' . ' , ■ ' 
 
 PRfPAJiE YE 7/iE WAY. 
 
 ^ In the first place, intemperanco hinders the progress of 
 God's kingdom at honie. *-'The Church cliiims England for 
 her own, but does Christ 7 One look aroimd will .give an 
 answer, enough to sadden the heart, no^ only of every 
 Christian, 6ut of every patriot. If wo lo^k amongst thii 
 higlierclasses, we see large ;^nli(ers who, having the fornT<of 
 godliness, deny the power ; and if \e look nmipngst the lower 
 classes, we see still larger nunibersNof them who are living 
 without God, and without hope in theSworld. Our country 
 is occupied by three armies. There V finfc, an army of 
 paupers; there is another almost equalW laWe army of 
 criminals; and then there is a third ariW of police, to 
 stand between the vicious and the virtuoufci and protect 
 *the latter, from the assaults of the former. \Ilow, 
 how is this? Are ther^. no churches "erected, 
 built, no schools open, no ministers appointed ? iii^ry one 
 knows ihat the answer must be, Jbhat there are all these, and 
 many more agencies in oper^ipn. How is it, then, that in 
 spite of our houses of prayer/jn spite of our -ministers, in 
 spite of our teachers, and in ffpite of all these elevating, and 
 ameliorating influences, such a state of things exists f I 
 answer, because there is this huge evil established amongst 
 us, wtich casts its dread shadow over everything that ii 
 lovely and of good report. Where, for example, are the 
 working men of England to be found to-day? Not in th« 
 house of prayer. Of working rae$n(l&aving out ^^hose who, 
 by the ^gency of total' abstinence, have had their eyes 
 opened, and been brought under the influence of the • 
 gdspel), vfery few of ih& bona fide working men will be 
 found there. In .many churches, and chapels, they so rarely 
 present thjemsolves, that the appearance of a genuine navvy 
 tpould astbnish ' the congregation almost as much as the 
 appearanc(j of a North American Indian. How is this? 
 Every Chiistian ought to ask the , question, and when he 
 
 chapels \ 
 
 ■{ 
 
 1 
 
 has found I the answer, he ought further to inquire whether 
 
 # 
 
■-i 
 
 1 
 
 '"•%L 
 
 , Prepare ye the way, 145 
 
 It is possible to remove tli« cause. Wliero, ihen, I ask, nro 
 our \vorkinj» inun to Ikj lourul ? I luive an .inswer in tliu 
 following ,fftdt:-— Throe or four Sundays a jo, some of our 
 young men at M.inehester watcli«<l ten public - houses 
 •luiing the eight aud a half hours they >r<jro allowed by 
 law to be open. Each young man took a note of the 
 Ijorsons who went in during that time; and what was the 
 result? Just this: that in round numbers into those ten 
 houses thtfrewejit 6000 men,. 'VOOOwomen.and 1000 children. 
 Thiit was, bear in mind, in only ten houses, and remember 
 that we Uve 3500 of them in this city. Now, I leave 
 you to say whether that is not an explnnation of the 
 reason that sO^few of the working ^men are found clothed, 
 •uml in their ri^ht mind, sitting at'the feet cf Jesus ? In 
 the case of many^of them they have no suitable clothes ; 
 but why is this? Because wages are low? They never 
 Mere so , good. ^Because trade is bad? As a whole, it i» 
 prosperous. How, then, is it? I answer, because the 
 ^ uKjney which ought to be spent In purchasing clothes for 
 themselves, theirwives, and their chl^ren, is carried to the 
 public-house, ind is thus worse than wasted. I wks in 
 Home large-works a few days ago, and the owner of them 
 told me that he had men in that ea^ablisliment who were 
 earning £5 per week, and who had not a decent coat to 
 put on their backs; and he questiPtted whether their wives 
 .had % decent dress to wear on the Sabbath-day. Ho told 
 me of one man, who had been in the receipt of £3 per 
 week* v^ho was killed by an accident which happened in 
 the establishment, and when he was carried home there 
 was not a sheet in the house on which to lay him out. I 
 wiy this, and a thousand other facts, that I might bring 
 forward, bear out the testimony of city missionaries, aiid 
 otbers/who are specially qualified to form an opinion, that 
 drink is the great preventive to working men being brought 
 
 under the influence of tlie gospel. Then there is another 
 
 K 
 
 P 
 
*,"■ 
 
 ^^^Ir 
 
 « 
 
 I. 
 
 14^ '%' 
 
 9 
 
 # 
 
 PREPARE YE THE WAY, 
 
 |»oint. Tlipro nre hoiiio who >|o inuiiy tiiiins, peiliap* rogu- 
 lai'ly, to tliu li()»«e of '0<k1, ami y«t aro not Bavtid. Wliy ? 
 I believe that the grntnl iiuutnili>{Qr of the gOH|K;l in tliu 
 liabit of (Iriiikiii;;; iiito.xioiitiiij{ litiuorfl. You uok me for 
 my mtson. I could give mnriy, hut will ho content with 
 t\vo, A Huilor nt Hull once Hni«l to n»e, " When I came to 
 God's hou8e first, and began to nee tjiat thiugR were wrong 
 with me, I determiiied I WDuld try to be a Christian, I 
 prayed earnestly that^Xled would make me His child, and 
 help me to live as a Chnslian should live ; hut I did not 
 give up t^he drink,, and 1 fouiitl that somehow or other 
 drink and religion didn't agree. Then*I thought I would 
 try another tack. I gave up the;drink, and directly alter 
 I found peace witli Gml, and now find that teetotalism and 
 Christianity work well tt^ether." The txperience of 
 thousands has been tlire sanie. There are, indeed, many 
 who, if they abondoned the glass, would sooti Hnd their 
 way to Calvary, and be saved. I spoke to a gentleman a 
 little white since, who came tu me in great distress about 
 his soul. I said, " You have been brought up under 
 Methodist influences, haven't you ?" " Yes," he said-p " in 
 early life my mother took me to God's house. I have 
 penendly been there on the Sabbath, and" — looking at me 
 with a look that told me the reality of his words — 
 V hundreds of times I have trembled, and wept, as I have, 
 listened to your sermons, and have made up my mind that 
 I would be a child of God. but the first gla^^s of wine I 
 took when I got home, swept those resolutions away." I 
 believe that tlje same truth would hold good of thousands 
 and tens of thousands who go to the house of prayer 
 on the Sabbatli ; the glass or two of wine alter their 
 return home washes away the imprekion, and, in some 
 cases, leaves tlieni farther from God, than they were 
 before they hj^l the sermon that impressed them. 
 
 I 
 
 *•"•*»• 
 
 9^ 
 
 K 
 
 X ^ 
 
 These then are illustrations of wbat| I mean by strong 
 
M 
 
 *■■ 
 
 >* 
 
 \ 
 
 ♦•.'•■ ' 
 
 
 ruEPARE va THE ivay. ur 
 
 drink l)d!ng a liindranct to the iiprtod of tlio gospol it > 
 homo. '- ^ ^ 
 
 It is also a ^'hulroiice to tho spread of the gonpel 
 abrofid. As I look (rt((^?^PL\voild, I romwiibef,' in the |lr8t 
 place, that our' I)ivinie^]kil^iljkr. in His great Bacrilio|| has 
 niude a full provinion^w'iitt mankind. I renieiffbcr in the 
 
 ^t^pcond place, that liavii^^^+iiiiTO a provision for the salvatioi 
 of the human family. He, wilh His Iftt words, laid iip.>u 
 
 - His Church the ru8|)onHil>ility of sending the glad tidiiii^s 
 to all lands, and to all people. They were not to leavo an 
 island unvisited, nor a man unwarned. They were to say 
 of nobody, " He is too low down to be raised up," of, " Ho 
 is too filthy to be .cleansed," or, " He is too rebellious to lo 
 subdued." The command' was clear and distinct : * Oo ye 
 into all the world,'and preach the gospel to every creatiav." 
 Have we ol)eyed it? If you look on the world, you will 
 see a few mission stations shining like flteflios at midnight, 
 and a few islands bright with the smile of God, but tho wat 
 are lying in wickedness. I askj how jS^^^ ? Is it tli.it 
 there is some particular barrier whicP^Hrevents us from 
 reaching these countries ? We used to hear at our 
 missionary meetings the prayer thates^God would open the 
 door to the heathen. We don't ^ hear that prayer now, for 
 the doors are wide open. The fact being that God hns 
 opened the doors more quickly than we have been prepared 
 to enter them. How is it, then, that though 1800 years 
 have pa<<8ed since the Bedeewer made His great provision^ 
 and gave us the command to carry the glad tidings to all; 
 and that though in all lands the people are crying, " Men 
 and brethren, what must we do \io bo saved ? " still midnight 
 darkness rests upon most of the human family? Is it 
 that we do not distinctly perceive pur duty ? Certainly 
 not. I go to those who are best Acquainted with these 
 things, and I ask them for an explanation. They tell nie 
 
 # 
 
 there are three reasons. Firsit, there is a want of means ; 
 
 /^ 
 
 ^- ■ -^sS^;- 
 
 \ 
 
145 
 
 PREPARE YE THE IVA}". 
 
 I 
 
 ' \* 
 
 ^ 
 
 8eo#ndly, there is a want of men ; anH tjlunily, there is a 
 want of success on- the part of those who are aJr'wiy in the 
 field: Now, I want yoiv to look with liie" at these three 
 reasons; while I try to show you that strong drink has ta 
 do with all of them. i •• . 
 
 In the first place, they tell us that we caimot; as Chris- 
 linns, take possession of the world- because wo have not 
 the inoans< The'lChurch recoifnises her duty, and 
 
 IS 
 
 ,f ■ 
 
 anxious alx)ut it. She not only sings>— 
 
 -jr;. ■ . ■ ■ 
 
 ' , .*' Were the whole realm of natijre mine, 
 
 That were » present far too small ; 
 ' Lore so amazing, so divine, 
 
 Demands my soul, my lifei my all," , 
 
 but she has set to work and organi^edj^ vast machinery by 
 which to fill her treasury. Our mos^. talei)ted men are 
 selected for deputations to go throuijh the land. Thousands 
 of missionai^ nieetings are held, missionaries are brought 
 home in ordei^ that, they may ar«ius& us by a declaration 
 of the sights tfe^y have seen in heathen lands. We have 
 books published, priae essays written, sc^rhions preachecl, and 
 speeches made. Our .wives and sistexs, our very children are 
 set to work, ?md yet what is*^ the fact of the case fv That 
 the contributions of the people of this country to the great 
 work of converting thi world amount to just upon eight- 
 pence per head I -Does the Great Master look upon this 
 as He looked , upon the widow who cast her two' mites itito 
 the treasury, and say of this land, " Sh6 has done what she 
 could"? Is it a tru^ that England,' the richer land 
 upon earth, made rich!^oo by her Christianity, has done 
 what she could for Him who redeemed her when she gives 
 eightpence per .l^ead for the conversion of th6 world ? Is 
 it so ? Alas! no; for while we have done thi^, we have 
 spent four pounds per head for strong drink. Christian and^ 
 thoughtful men, look, at thJB I Ought it so to be? Ask 
 
 .«v\ 
 
 .**^.: 
 
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 ajTOti'Oliiffia.fflg 
 
\\' 
 
 PREPARE YE THE WAY, ^ . 149 
 
 yo»tr«elv«8 wUtither it is right we shonltl give fo^r pounjls per 
 Annum for titot which is, at the best, a needless .hixiny, „ 
 and eightpenee for tlie conversion of a pwiahing World. ^ 
 I know what the answer in your hearts will lie. I 'say 
 to the Church of Cinist that tiiere need not l)e all this ^ 
 '* pumping " il she were faithful. If she were to give as 
 much for the conversion vf the w.orld, as ".she 4^&i for 
 drink, her treasury would be full to overflowing, and .we 
 should have to cry, " Stay your hands ; the pecuniary 
 wants of the world are inet." Some are beginning to- 
 see this. I was looking a short time since at a beauti- 
 
 . ful 'chapel, holding perhaps 1,800 or 2000 people. A 
 
 • gentleman connected with it said, "There's not '« penny , 
 of debt upon it" " How did you manage that ? ** I asked. 
 " Oh/* said he, " we are all abstainers, and what we were 
 accjAistomfed tg pay for drink we gave to God, and the.- " 
 result is, that we have got this house without a penny of 
 debt upon it." Qh, if the Church wants to build chapels; ", 
 
 , or establish* sphooU, or aid missionary societieii, she has, but ' 
 , to go and do likewiSe, and she will soon find there is 
 nothing in reason she catmst' accomplish ! As 'soon as the 
 Church, under the constraining love of Christ shalV stand 
 up ami say, '* We will drink no more intoxicating liquor 
 until the spiritual wants of the world are met," the mil- 
 Icnutal day will tjurst upon us. ' . ^ ' ' •■ 
 
 Tlien there is the second reason. They say the world 
 is, not converted, because ^we have not the men — especially 
 suitable' men— men who will turn the world upside dowii. 
 
 - : — ^ijiien who will go like a flUme qf fii-e into the midst ot 
 the he, I then. How is this ? There are men to be found 
 for everything else. Whew men are wanted by our Govern- . ' 
 meiit Itti* India, or for Africa, or for ti>e islands i)i the sea,' 
 there are plenty of young men ready to say, " Hel-e arei we, ' . 
 Stud us." . How is it, then, that nQien our Diyine Master 
 Wctnts ambassadors, so few of the right stamp tn»e, prepared 
 
r. ^ 
 
 H 
 
 !H 
 
 150 
 
 1 
 
 PREPARE YE THE WnY.4 
 
 to respond ? I believe one reason is, that the drinking 
 customs have doiie u:uch to enervate -the Church. The 
 stream will never rise higher than its fount. A cros^T 
 shirking^ pleasure-seeking Church will never produce a self- 
 sacrificing, cross- healing body of young men. Let the 
 Church rise, and the young men will .rise with her; let 
 the Church be self-sacrificing, and wo shall have a host of \ 
 young men com\^g out of her,|Who will go east, and west, 
 north, and south, and fill the earth with joy and gladness. 
 The Methodist Magazim some years" agfi said, that strong 
 drink was, destroying' more souls tHan all the ministers 
 of Christ were saving. In looking at this terrible fact, 
 remember, strong drink aims high. It aims at the men of 
 active bfkin, and warm heart. Those who fait victims to it 
 are your best men: It is your best mechanic^y^^s your 
 best soldiers, it is your best sailors, it is youfblsr orators, 
 it is your best legislators, — and with reverence, and 
 trembling, I would say, it is your best ministers, who 
 are in the greatest danger from this evil. There are 
 some men who cart't fall ; some who are of thecfearth, 
 earthy, and alcohol seems to have little influence over 
 •them; but the "meii Qf active brain, and wdrm heart, at 
 once peem to be afi^ctipd by it, and in spite of their prayers 
 and resolutions, rmnf of them are swept away by the 
 destroyer. If we think oif this properly, we shall see why 
 it is that there are not more men to go into the rough 
 places of the Christian field, and fight the battle for our 
 great Redeemer. / ' 
 
 Then there is the third reason — -want of success— -at 
 which I may but glance. On the part of those who have 
 gone into the h^^then woild, we hear, on every hand, the 
 cry, *' Wild hath believed our report, and to whom is the 
 arm of the Lord revealed?" \Ye are mourning with our 
 missionaries that we see so few of the wonderful manifesta- 
 tions of . God's saying power. What is it that hinders the 
 
 V. 
 
 ;'V' 
 
 
 .■\ 
 
PREPARE YE THE WAY, 
 
 «S« 
 
 X 
 
 :V: 
 
 course of the gaspel in the hentlien world? Art we 
 mistaken as' to its nature ? This is impossible. It is the 
 power of Qod to salvation to etvery one that Ijelieveth. it 
 is God's remedy for the worlti's disease. Why then is it 
 hindered in its hles^ed . work ? The answer tht^t comes 
 from those engaged' in the work, and who Are best qualified, 
 to judge, is that t|iere are Kuropean barriers that are muchjl 
 stronger than heathenisrn and idolatry. The missionary tells 
 us, over and over again/that he is far more afraid of English 
 drinking, than fre is of native idolatry; that he has trembled 
 again and again at the sight of an English lace, when he 
 would not have trembled at the foce of some heathen 
 chief. Duncan Mathieson, writing from Constantinoi)le, 
 says, "At every spot the gospel meets this dreadful foe. 
 It baffles our every effort. It makes the very name of 
 Christian abhorred." Archdeacon Jeffreys says, "Where 
 the gospel has saved tens in India, strong drink has 
 destroyed hundreds." Chunder Sen, to' whom many of you 
 listened a short time sinc», says, that " the air of India 
 rings with the cries of thbse who have been destroyed by 
 strong drink." And I might quote similar testimony from 
 almost every land. Here, then, are the witnesses of the 
 trutli of my position ; and they tell us that our drinking 
 habits have been such an injury to ns in the eyes of the 
 heathen, that they have conie to regard Christianity, and 
 drunkenness, as synonymous terms ; and that^ when one of 
 theif number is seen under the influence of drink, they 
 say,^ "He has become I^Christian ! " Thus drink is found 
 to be one of the greatest hindrances to their glorious ^york. 
 I have thus tried- to show you tkat strong drink is the 
 huge mountain that hinders the progress of the kitigdom 
 hf Christ It hinders it at home; it hinders it abroad; 
 it hinders it everywhere.' And now I come to my second 
 position, that it is the duty of the Christian Church to sweep 
 this enemy away. Do I hear-some of my Christian friends 
 
 \. 
 
 :« 
 
^ > 
 
 1^ 
 
 11 ■ 
 
 iili 
 
 > ^ 
 
 -' . ^r 
 
 153 
 
 PRaPARK YE^1:HE way. 
 
 
 Baying, 
 Church 
 
 " Oh that it were prssibje V*% My friends, the 
 will never be able to crfst mountains into the 
 depths of the sea, till slid' is strong in faith. No! The 
 Great Muster said, '1 if ye have /fltVA, y^ shall say to\thia 
 mountain, be thou removed, and cast' into the depths of 
 the sea," and faith in regfird to this evil iriqst be ais strbng^^ 
 AS that, or we shall never suecfetd. You aap hie, theii^^. 
 " Can tliis mountain be removed j"^ I poiiit you to my^ 
 text . The voice of the Lord- saith " ev*?ry valley s//a// be 
 exalted, and^eveiy mountoin. and hill sJtalt he made low^ 
 and the i?rooked shall be^made straight, and the rougli 
 places plain." You may not take "part in this glorious 
 work through unWlief, but If yoiA dOn't toncli this evil, 
 somebody else will, and if^you don't enter upon, your work 
 ift this the time of your .visitation, then Gqd will raise up 
 anot|pr people.that shall be ifiore worthy of Him You 
 jnay delay His work,* but you c^iinop. prevent it "Eyerv 
 valley shall be exalted, and e very >pioun tain aiid hill shall 
 lie made low, and the crooked places shall be Hmde straight, 
 and the rough places plain." Here, then, is o_iir foothold.' 
 Ood has decked that these mountains shall perish. Nbvy, 
 I turn to; tli| Christian Cjhurch, to you who are here, anjd 
 through you.^ |;hose outside ; and I call upon the Church 
 to respond to the voice of her Great Master, and' give heri 
 self to the wolrk that is put before her. First, let me say 
 most emphatically, that tlie Church ean remove, this moun- 
 tain of which I* am now especially speaking. Look at her 
 merely on her human side, and you will perceive that she 
 is the mightiest organization in existence. Let the Church 
 decree that any evil in this land shall perish, and who 
 can preserve it? Look at her power as 'a teacher. Are 
 not the children of our country in her halids ? Is there a 
 village, or hamlet, wher^ her teaching is not heard ? Let 
 her, then, denounce this cause of^evil, and her voice will be" 
 li8t,ened to, a nd obeyed . — Then look at the 
 
 political power 
 
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 the 
 
 
 
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 J^RBPARE YE THE WAY. 
 
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 153.; 
 
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 V. 
 
 *'i'which' sheu possesses. Is there ah election ift which the 
 Christian Chufch ciHmptturn the Valance ? We l^y 
 there is not There is not a WoiVgh in the kingi^in 
 in which" she cannot decide wlio^ RhalWbe the repre^ji^su 
 tive. Let her be loyal |q her Great Master, and shtf will 
 speak. to Parliameiit fu|8vich terms that, liieroro another 
 session. is gone, this tftiffi^ will be doomed.* ' , 
 
 Tliat liS the human side of the Qhurch^^ but, then, there 
 .is the Divine side. Looked at from an- earthly poiut of 
 Vi6w, sht^ is mighty ; but IVom^a Divine point of view, she" is 
 much more mighty, f 4^ " ^od is in tli§ midst of her, and He 
 slluU help her/ She has not only th6 ordinary power 
 which men have, butshe h«8 Omnip^^jence at her command. 
 She can not only influence Parliament and kings, but she 
 can "niqve the Arm that moves the world." Let her stand 
 np' i^ her strength, an^ «he can not only wrestle with 
 fleslwulid blood, bu<^ with "principalities and powers, and 
 \Vhen, she pats forth Tier strength her enemielJ'^uust lick 
 the dUst. I^et hei* then arise, and decree the end of this 
 evil, and in our own days that end shall come. 
 
 f The Church wiws<, if .slm would hold her oj|te ^'^heriB is 
 
 no ■ nei^rality iit^jis war If we are not fi^nling Strong 
 
 dfink, it is assaiUng us. ^Look into the Church, and e^very- 
 
 ^here you will find /Rachel weeping ' for ' her children 
 
 i>ecause they ' are not : "^witetunibers who were dn the foisl^ 
 
 front of the fight falUng into the rear|Ljptticer3, who led 
 
 on the sa^njmental hosts, retiring from flPa field ; men, wll 
 
 once occupied a sacred place, fitlling away through thi 
 
 terrible evil, I have seen sights that, if I Were to depict/ 
 
 theiii to you, would harrow up ybuir souls. They tell me 
 
 sometimes t speak strong words about this matter, but then 
 
 n^y heart is sore widdn me. I have seen a minister, at 
 
 whose feet t have sat in by-gone day's, dragged down hy 
 
 'strong .drink, till, with a blackened face, he has stood up in 
 
 "tlie/ drinkshop, and there nuittercd out hist ^^'^''jjl^ps amidst 
 
 
 (./■ 
 
 1 
 
 ' •''■ 
 

 I™ fcbiliSi^fi^tions are .not. to be waiter- 
 tio|?(Jr '; yet %/* that is,, the. cioin^id, 
 
 i.-«;'^.!^l^^|§r:^fQ«it.'S&»8S is t^'dQlIip.|yill.-.- It 8eein8-t(^^p-&t- 
 
 I s^'^ft^M^v T^^P'^^'^**'* ^'!®,Q'^"^%-^l>o J'ftve very efrdHi^Si 
 ^ |a»as t^ %hat is i)«^ 
 
 QiiyVrhp seism tR^iinlij^^ 
 
 y^^pPeifcing^lioitse, into, whichr liliey n)j|y enter; aijd -where 
 
 (• tll^0ay '■ fit arid sing tHemselv^awaiy to everlasting bliss;*' 
 
 ■ ■'/■ 
 
 .i;'-.' 
 
 v- ^.r^"* gi\:^! ISh^e/'^^ the safc^cdce saying, "Now deS^r,^ 
 
 ' ^: v; tyiWlcai, df the devil;^}— try to make earth lilveh(^v6nv' 
 ; , . ' agd ey<^y man Me A^^ Whatsoever thy liami fi^deth to 
 1^, dp^'-it with!: ' thy f might." The ^ isold ie)*. remember,, is 
 
 ind to wdr against i^v^ry eneujy ofliis king;«hd s^ 
 / with tlie sol&iers, of Christ, I may not \pifck ,aiid 
 Sorjne of Our friends say, " Oh, we can't assault that 
 'We are- vfery busy -w flj^ ignoranpe, or heath« 
 ri)^ht.1 Fijiht away ^H^p these, but remembetj 
 . when ,a |nau enlists— arid some of thefrienc 
 , wlio weaftbthe coloured cIot|be8of>the army cdu! 
 tliisevenr better than- I can — he doesn't bargains 
 
 ■'■'■■■ ^ •*. "^ 
 
 will qnly^'figlit against certain foes* -There |^ no' 
 
 -^j^' 
 
 ■M 
 
 Btandimr 
 
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 M 
 
 
 tluit he will tight the French.and'not the Cieiimaiis, 
 
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 ■.■ '■ ■■ ■•.•/ 
 
 ^fm^- 
 
 
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 PREPARE YE TJIE WAY. 
 
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 ■-n.'Vy^-.:- 
 
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 or fight the Aiastrians, and not the Biissiaha. Imftgine that^ 
 wav was declared with any of these nations, and a ccrtniu 
 'regiment were to- say, "We didn't enlist to fight against 
 ', ' that enemy I," The thing is ahsurd. The soldier enlists to 
 fi^ht against i«rery enemy of his monarch, and the soldier of 
 th6 cross enlists to fight against tvtry enemy of his King, 
 lie is boun4\ to fight against everything that injures man/^ 
 or offends God. He must. The command has gone forth, 
 ,! ' and he will not he found faithful if he attempts to evade it. 
 Some present may ask me, How are we to proceed ? I 
 answer, first, ift you want to battle with intemperance, you 
 must do it b)^ total abstinence frotn the drink. Nothing 
 will do iusteadi. You may preach from tire pulpit, yon 
 ' may form yoUr organizations, but if you don't abstain your- 
 self, you will neWer sucdeed. We may legislnte till dooms- 
 day, but unless we pass a law upon our lips, depend upon 
 , it thdvencmy will hold us in derision. What does the 
 Book tell us ? , T Ye are the lights of the world." Yon 
 can't helnvourselves. You are Christ's representatives to 
 life <(itnWe'^hQ%l)pw you. You, n^ brother, if you go into a 
 hftuse, are . Cmiist'i representative there. Tltere are little 
 .children tkt the table with you, and they say, "Is it right 
 to d,rin|: ?",,and thW look to you for thcanswer* Action^? 
 speak louder. j^ijilji^n yords. You sometimes say, you wonld 
 
 efP^Pifc^^o|y|,^take a glass of wine you lift up 
 
 Your ejwrplS^Ml "be *in favour of drin king^ Actions, 
 
 I suy if a^, sp^ki loudeA thtta M^rds-v It is np. good for 
 
 inV to denounce'' d^inlk tj^my tips, iJXidte not dbnoilhce it 
 
 by my*taractice..- ifjrllife wiU afwaVs be more irifiuential 
 
 ♦ th^ my words. AiMlthere are iiftt only the«<fihildren to be 
 
 preservedi bub the ftmen^to^ and herein, too, yq^r 
 
 eJ^IlJ|►|e ^ill be mighty fij^ good, jfirBvii. •, I avoid.strong 
 
 ^e sake of i th^ 1^% are *"fiR&W;ng« Will n 
 
 le very last cWversatiduif' nM. wi^^ 
 
 •!•■ - ■ i^^k 
 
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 noble 
 
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 M,>;••■,^ 
 
 156 
 
 PR t PAKE YE THE WAVi 
 
 tYA 
 
 man — George Wilson (formerly the Cliairmiin of the Anti- 
 Corn Law league) — was on this subject. He said, "Mr. 
 Gari-ett, I oft* n wish that the clergy of the Church knew 
 how much good they could do by abstttiuing froin strong 
 drink." 1 said," Yes, I>ish they did." •>! have a friend," 
 he continued, " belongi;ig to one of the iirtt families in the 
 country. He is a young married roan, and has bten intem- 
 peratCi H&wife, mother, and friends have wept, and pray«d, , 
 about him, and at last, he has signed the pledge for twelve 
 months. Only this morning his mother, who drove to see 
 me in, her carriage, said, ' Oh, Mr. Wilson, I am so unhappy 
 about my son I I heard him say last night he .should bo - 
 glad when the twelve months were over; and it has been } 
 such a blessed twelvemonth to us all. I asked him why ? 
 and he replied, ' Because, go where I may, I am now brande^i 
 as intemperate. I mix with company, and sit down at a 
 table at which I am the only one that does uot tiike win»|iv 
 My glass of water seems to say to all around, here is a niaff 
 who was a tlrunkard. If others took water-^if only another ' 
 did— ^I could stand it ; but my glass of water being tlji^ 
 only one, tells the company that I am a slave to drink. I 
 cannot Sitand alone, and I shall be glad when it is over.'" 
 There are men like this in almost every; society ; men who - 
 are moral paralytics. They cannot tight the battle foti 
 themselves, and we rainisterSi and you Christians, are those 
 to w horn their eyes are turned for help. They say, " If he 
 would only take water instead of wine ; if he would only 
 stand by my side and help me, I would thank him here,!' 
 and bless him herealter." ^And will you not do it ? Will *;v;i 
 you pass by On the other iide, and leave them to perish?^* 
 Oh, surely not ! Love to /God, and man, forbids it. You"^ 
 will come to their aid,<and/ in your exampltf1;bey will find " 
 ai harbour of refSge. Abstinence first I What next? 
 Entire prohibition of the iraiffie. Do what you will ; form 
 
 Cll 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^' 
 
 
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 te 
 
 your Bauds ol Hope; eslablicsh your Temperance St>cietiesj 
 
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 ^ '\. . ■ 
 
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 Vi1 
 
 PREP4RB YE THE WAY, 
 
 
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 »57 
 
 prej^ your sermons; but as long as we have a business 
 lityiised to produce misery, vice, and ct-ime, in oi\r midst, 
 thj6 evil will continue. You remembei^ that wonderful • ^ 
 sj^etch, of the Interpreter's House, in the Pilgrim's Prorjreas. _ 
 ^vejn. the boys, who are hero will recollect it. Christian 
 jwent into a room where there was a tire burning, and there 
 ^'were n»en^pouring water upon it But jt was of lib use, -for _ 
 /the tire Would burn, in. spite of the water they pouy-ed. He - 
 / wondered, as well he might, at this singulAri circum^ 
 'stance; but his guide led him round, and sliowed him 
 somebody else behind pouring oil on the fire, wjiich had ' 
 more effect in feeding the flame, than the watei^l lid in 
 .extinguishing it. That is a , tru# description of thle Tra ffic^ 
 in strong drink. We have thp fire amongst us; (|ur .s6l|BL% 
 and' daughters, and our natiiotial interest, ATd.boiiour, n^^. 
 beihg consumed by it. Some of us have beerT tiryin^g to 
 extiwyuish it. We have used the pulpit, the desk, and the ; 
 platfotm, and yet this fire has burned the fiercer, f^nd now. 
 we have gone behind and found 150,000 p6rsons Mcensed 
 to perpetuate it, and shall we toU'rate this ? ^Tliey tell us 
 they are licensed by the Government. I say ho Govern- 
 nient h^ a right to license men to tenipt my chil^rjj^ 
 wrong, ijpon't tell nie about] rights, or vested in^BPh' 
 / hav6 vested interests: I hiive ten little children at 
 home, and who.will protect thein from, tlvese 150>000 men, ^ 
 
 • the direct tendency of whose trade is )to blight and ruin* 
 
 ; them, here^ and hereafter? In the name of the fathers " - 
 tw||Kfibthers of Engldnd, I demand th|h! prohibition of the 
 
 • tSHK We must hove it ! Will yoi^ help ?• Oh, look at - 
 yoiS little children! Ywi may be /istrong, but they -are . 
 weak. Look at the victims around that ate powe'rlesa 
 
 t 
 
 «' Men 6f pod, to yqji they cry, 
 Tiirits to youJ,bOir tear-filled eye^ 
 n, ClyHti 
 
 ^iHelpiis 
 
 nr/«fe die 
 
 , Die in u ric 
 
 
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 %i. 
 
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n- *. 
 
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 «58 
 
 \EPARE YE.THE WAf; 
 
 :f 
 
 »■ 
 
 
 \\ 
 
 ShftU we be afttibiis about tl.e h^||ppPRPtiiej«^ a)>p«t 
 the suffbrers at home? I }^K^, reach idolatry, iumI ileHtK.y 
 it, but in;.Ood'8 name roach the inteirfperauce of i^gluuil 
 and swefrtwt away, : -^^ 
 
 I^stiyWAe text pitta before vs the glurima nmlt. .Wo 
 '•ttve jong^been crying, "Let Thy kingdom come." We 
 hfvye f^t for it, M^e have wrestled in our closets for it, but "^ 
 still Hffhaa been Relayed. Why? A little boy, one cold 
 winder's morniq|j at family prayer, heard his father, whi. 
 was a rich man. pifaying earneatly that God would comfort 
 the poor i» tlitf piercing cold weath^-. When prayer wa^|^ 
 over, the little fellow went nestling up to his father's -side,"^ 
 ""^ SS?* " ^*"P*^.,/' What do you want, my boy ? " " Ob. 
 tlint,'^e said^" wo^uch a niie prayer. I am so gfad you 
 prayed that God iould corn!brt the poor people, who have 
 nothing to eat; and nd ch.tWes to%ear in thi? cold wvatlier." *'> 
 
 M am glad you liked it," saicfthStfather. "yes." said tiie 
 boy, " and, father, ' ' '•--•-- 
 I would soon answ 
 answer many of oiir prayers at once if we will.^ " l;hy 
 
 **ingdom come" is'our jjgj^ Here is ^Jod's an^r: "Set 
 to woikj'lift up the 
 
 ■M • 
 
 ^■•|' 
 
 make the 
 
 rough 
 
 r. I y|g"KJ»**jf I lid .some of your money. 
 an8M|||thaWprnyer."^ Yes. and «><? can 
 r«.„. «^„„„;;^ a,, jjngg jf ^g will.^ "Xhy 
 
 Here is God's an^r: "Set 
 , bring fe^vn tbe^ountaln, 
 
 places 
 
 'ooked p 
 
 KKes^^'iT 
 
 , . ., ^ ,, plain, arid JIiM 
 
 stilight, and then I will eoffle/'^ocimits^ftit man. l* 
 
 is a >^Jemn thought. But it is-^fH mah 4Ie not do so 
 
 ^^^^^^<^^^^ youunbt to |ll|h, Jtdsow, bdore He 
 
 giHs you j^tlffe increase f Was 'it'fot so when He was here 
 
 opH^rth? There is the dead Laiarus. Does He not say 
 
 ^&t, "Roll ye »vvay the stofte," ." . . and then. " Lazarus, 
 
 C(fcie forth " ? So it is ever. God never' does man's work. 
 
 That is a law. God, therefore, is waiting for us to do 
 
 our duty-^how-anxiously He waits who can conceive?— 
 
 ^s^soon as the Church is prepared to do the Lord's bidding, 
 
 Tliowx)rld shall he filled with His glory. .^ 
 
 Before we part, let me speak a word or two to any in 
 
 ■'i -^ 
 
 'S'. 
 
 >"*■■ 
 

 m\.. : . 
 
 I, 
 
 A 
 
 PREPARE YE THE WAY, 
 
 »59 
 
 tilts coui;roKatiori who inny bo victims to tliiir^co. Brother, 
 . you have w»!i>t nmtiy teara, iimdo many eirortM, hiiv«* Hij^nwd 
 ihu i)lf<lg«) and luokcn ii again, and you Huy, " It'n of no nso 
 ^ ' for mo to try to OHcape." Liko tliu ancient pooplt), you are 
 
 saying. "There 19 no Lope, therefore after my idoln will I 
 * go." My brother, th4l is b"pe. God is able to make you 
 stand. Are tliuru not many listening to me who were (mc^ 
 tieil ami bound with the chairis of thin sin, but Omni- 
 potence has t«)ucheil their fetters, and they are now the 
 l.< nl's free men? ^y brother, my sister, wherever, and 
 whofvcr, you are, in Christ there is hope for you. 
 
 Jpii'fctians, for your osviii sake, for your children's sake, 
 fof'your c<»iintry'8 sake, for the Chinch's sake — come and 
 hMp us I I know what people have said, though I fl,ni 
 tired of answerin;' it ; they say that we put teetotalism in 
 ^yi^place of the *spel, You might as well say that we 
 pJIPthe bread we give to a, starvin'g man, or the lessons' we 
 gif^^e to (in ignorant child,, in the place of the gospel. You 
 should remend)er that a man must be in the riubt con- 
 d(|tinn before the gospel will do hiin good. Our work is 
 to level mouhtains. We are tojbe pioneers, tj|i|f th(f royal 
 chariot cannot get on if this is not done. '^ J'"d^V'i'>-'^ti (U 
 people will help us on with your smiles, anlpS^'rs, and 
 active co-operation, through God we shall soon succeed. 
 
 ~ Christian friends, we are trying to obey the te.\t- — will you 
 not do the same? If not, be sure you have a reason that 
 wfH'* be sufficient at the judgment day. My teetotal friends, 
 a word to you. Tftke gare that while you level luountains, 
 you be loyal to the King. . Take care of that. Take care 
 that you are not like the poor French prisoners in Ger- 
 many, working for a king wliom you in yoar hearts detest. 
 . Men niay serve God, and yet never partake of His glory. 
 The men wTToTJiiiilt the ark perished ; and oh,- it is sad to 
 see a man fighting nobly, and yet not loyal to the king ! 
 God help you to enlist to-day. Do so. for your ovvn sake, 
 
 '■■ ■■- '^ ■- . - ^' ■ ;" " :.wi- • ■ • - .. ■ ■ '.■'..■ ■.„: 
 
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 160 
 
 I'JiEPARE YE THE WAY, 
 
 tmrtlior. Tf you want to Rmf.ple with the devil, nee tlmt 
 
 you have iUA with you. ir only for your usofuhioss' Hake. 
 
 I would ui'«e you to come to Christ. Do 8(» hIho lor th^ 
 
 Hike of thu cHUHe. It piercfs nio tlirou'-h when I hour it 
 
 auid, " Sucli n ninn is a teetotaller, hut ho swears, he hreaks 
 
 the Sabbath." Oh, let uh Ihj free frofu any such repmach I 
 
 Let us ho perfectly loyal to Christ. To ho safe, to be 
 
 useful, to he happy, you must be His. Will you come to 
 
 Him to-day ? I know there are many prayers offeroii 
 
 obout this service thii afternoon, and shall they not be 
 
 answered? This is the house of God, this is the gate of 
 
 heaven. My brother, you may have come hei« a slave of 
 
 the devil, but you nmy go away the I>)rd'8 free manJ^Yon 
 
 nuiy have come a double-dyed sinner, but you may go away 
 
 as white as snow. Slmll 1 lead you to Jesus? Shall I 
 
 now ? " Oh," you sny, " 4»ut look at my sins ! " I say, 
 
 " Look at the crogs of Christ." You say, " Look at my 
 
 pollution;' I say, " Look at the cleansing blood." 
 
 ' " Were all the sins that men hftve done, 
 ' Since worldn were inmle or time iMtgim, 
 
 In will, or word, or thought, or «locd, 
 
 Lnid oil one guilty sinmr's hi ad. 
 
 The hlood of Chrint, that crimson wa, 
 
 Would ^ake the guilt or all away.** v 
 
 We shall never all meet again till the archangel's trumpet 
 shall summon us to appear before the judgment.st-at of 
 Christ, and I want you to be ready. My fellow-sinner, 
 thou art now close to Christ. His eyes are upon thee. He' 
 longs to receive thee. Rest thy soul on Him, and all shall 
 be well. Brethren, I leave you in God's hands. Hay He 
 bless and prosper you for ever and ever 1 Amea 
 
 %■ 
 
 
 #• 
 
 '^. 
 
„•.■■■ 'i- ■ ■■ ■ ■ ■ • 
 
 SAVE THE C III LDREN} 
 
 " It h not the will of your Fathor wliiuh Ih iri lienvon, th«t one of th«i» 
 little uncM ithuuld (N)riiih."—M ATI. xviii. 14, 
 
 IT ia the prerogative .of Qod to turn ctirses into hk'ssings^ 
 and to bring good out of <>vil, and ttiin TIu is con^tuntly 
 doing. It is Been iji the history of the hunuin fnmily, 
 and especi ally ijAJbliii.yplunie of Uevelation. We owe Moiue 
 of the nio8t_£reciou8 parts oi'^he_8aiia:e^, book to the wlcked- 
 HessorTnan. Take, lor example, the 15th chapter of the 
 Gospel by Xuke, a clinpter that has been more honourtid 
 in leading^innejalo Christ, than perhaps any ch'upter in the 
 lUlile. T'his MFC sli'onld never have hail but fpr the envy 
 ayd malice of the Scribey oud HuiriseeA They eontphiined 
 that^itr.DivincMuater received sinners ; and He, instead of 
 denying the statement, wejcomed it, and illustrated and 
 dofenjded^ilL^^tjws^^pi^^ parables, and so made the 
 wrath of man to praise^^y. My texj- is another rema'rk- 
 uble illustration. TWla^t^es, like the rest of the Jews, 
 htdd tlie opinii^ ^thot; the Messiah would establish an 
 eartWy kingdoirn and reign in worldly glory. Their Master 
 ti^quently rebqked this error, and showed them that He 
 had ^me for a fairhfgJjer purpose ; yet they clung to the 
 idea,7prid it frequc^ntiy inanifested itself. It did so at- the' 
 time when the text jvas uttered. Some of them had wit^ 
 neased the glory of His transtiguration, and nil of tj|ieai 
 
 -m- 
 
 hvached in Great Queen Street Chapel, for the BanJ of Hop«. 
 
 'M 
 
>! ' 
 
 
 \1 
 
 163 
 
 SAF£ THE CmiDHBM 
 
 1/ ^• 
 
 / 
 
 V 
 
 -// 
 
 had Ae6n His power as" it was shown in the productipn of 
 , the tribute money. Thisse niarvellouV scepes had awakened" 
 their old bf>£t;. and, fulling behind their Master, they began 
 to ttdk abf>ut His kingdom, and to argue as to which of 
 .t^jeni sjiould hold the highest place in it. As each of them 
 ^ doubtless had what he considered a sufficient reason for 
 believing that tl^e post of . honour would be occupied by 
 hiinseW, they disagreed ; and, ambition, and envy, Imving 
 prepared the w.iy Tor hypociisy, tliey went to the Master as 
 if it were a mere matter of curiosity, and not one in which 
 they had any perspnal interest, and said^ " Master, who is 
 die greatest in the kingdom 6f heaven ? " The Sa^iSin 
 thoroughly understood tliem, aifd, taking a little child, told 
 them not what they wanted to know, but the terrible fact 
 uiatf, unlefes they bedtttiie men of a different spirit, instead .of 
 being first in His kingdom,, they should not enter therein. 
 He then preached to theni'^ a sermon, whicli, if rightly 
 heard, would have shown them the way of life, and,, having 
 finished the sermon, He rewarded the child for the use He 
 • had made of hi/n by uttering the, words^ of my text— "words 
 that throw a halo of glory ardund the head qf every cliild of 
 man, words that are indeed "glad tidings of great joy to alt 
 , people.*' They fell us that He who made the children 
 loves them all. Guided by their light, we lose our fears, 
 and 'may look upon the little ones with holy joy. There is 
 no exception ; "It is not' the will of your Father that one 
 "of these little ones "-should perish." The mother, as she 
 gazes on lier bright-eyed little group, may. see these blessed 
 •wolds reaching like a rainbbw over them all. Tl*e teacher 
 may" see it spanning the school; the miiiister, the church ; 
 the patriot, the\;o^ntry;.'t>Iie Christian, tire"%VorId. It is a 
 Divine 'revelation over which the whole .family of niqytt may 
 Tdjoice. and' be glad. ' % V^^ y - / ^ ' ,., ,^^^|i{ 
 
 To this passage ImntAo cair,your attenti6fi. ^^^^ tfeer, 
 around me the tewnfillions of 'Brit{iin*8,childreflaliKl<f^t^ 
 
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 SAF^ TJiE CHILt>REM. 
 
 163. 
 
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 ti ght of j Tie,te^j I plead with y«Vu on th^ir I'^hal'f. "Sqtoo of 
 tii0m l^rij^ht aii^ jpyou's/Sbiue sad an3\ sorrowfitl, some 
 clothed in purl>le and fin0 Jmen, and. spnie; alas ! in rags ; 
 hut' ovef the«X iill---ot?!5r ,/A<5»n «//, eqmliy, Are tlie words^ of 
 the Saviour.' " It is ncfji t^e Avill of yoiir Father that one of 
 ihera should ,peri,8h." My sulViect?; then, is the children-rr 
 \Britairi'8 clAldren '; and Va subjects morfe. interesting; more 
 Attractive, or^mer^ important, it is impossible to have* 
 Aia^lorjjja^asja nation, tl,te^^ hitherto baen shanief ully '^ 
 
 4V jerlo oked i We have care^ fo^^ our gui^i, our 
 
 vOTy ^ttTe, but the chil(Jr^]b. have been all but forgotten. 
 This has heen^-our nation)|l sin, and is now our national 
 disgrace: The Bible says, *' j^cjhild.. left Jto„ himself 
 hjJE^tii hifl.. iootliei:JtO,.4L%^^v and it is 80. No adorn- 
 ment ornccompHshment will diguily a woman who neglects 
 h^ children. And no victories, rib wealth, no diseoveries, 
 no epmmerce, will make a nation glorious, whos^^ childrpn 
 are. neglected. Hence, if we "are true patriots, we shair 
 put every- other 'question aside till we have doiie our 
 duty in this matter. May the text bdthe star that shall 
 
 :guide us-1 " . '..'■;.■.''■■■:».•■:• "' ^'.^■''- ^ .'■' ^ '':'..■: 4 
 
 .- ' ■'■■ * ■•■■ ■ ' .\ ' 
 
 > I. Thelj£jci implies. ^at the children -are in terrible 
 danger . .One of.' the most expressive words in the'Bibte is 
 employed respecting them-— tlie-word". perish^ " Who can 
 fathom the full metvning of this fearful xyoard ? I know 
 what is meant by a mill^.perishing, pr a vessel perishing, but 
 nol human being can comprehend what is meant by aftjliild 
 perishing. The word is used by the Saviour^as the apposite 
 to everlasting life, and hence it means npt^only th^ t^uih of,. 
 ,the body, but the ruin of the soul; It defers not only to 
 time, but ^to the ^ast ages of eternity. If a lost soul qould 
 speak to us, we shpuld learn .tl^t the'^esttuclipn of .^^y- 
 palace PH. the land, ayd eV^ery vessel pn^'jIihB 8ea,.woulcl be 
 nothing to the losi3 of a child.'? I / ' . > .; '' 
 
 
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 164 
 
 SAFE THE CHILDREN 
 
 And is it true that our children are in such danger? 
 is. Don't we sinff-rn ;' " , 
 
 A 
 
 It 
 
 ' '* Thp streotB Off the city are full 
 
 Of poor little jieriBhUigBoulB"? ' 
 
 And is it itot a most humiliating thought— that there is 
 not a town, or village, in the land in which these lost ones 
 are not to be found ? ,L(>gik into the streets, into tlie^ 
 prisons, into the.asylumSj, intft eternity, and then say it' ^ 
 ■ -they are not - •:-'-•'/.' ■' 
 
 •' Perishing, perialung every day ! •* 
 
 If this is so, ought we not. with intense earnestness to** 
 seek out the cause, and, having 'discoyered it, pledge onr- 
 '. selves before ^Oodv never to rest till we have done ouf 
 
 utmost, to remove it ? V • V 
 
 Let us then inquire into the soiJirces of the children.'s 
 danger. ^J'his inquiry will cover ft w^de area, and at ujan'y 
 of thd points we can only glance. -^ 
 
 .; They are in, danger, first, from the depravity of their 
 /^w«fttr^.K<) one loves children niore tenderly than I do, 
 but I cannot forget that they are ." ghapen in iniquity," that 
 "foolishness is hound up in their hearts/' and that their 
 iniaginations are evil— only evil^-and that continnWlIy.. 
 .This must be constantly borne in mind in our dealings with \ 
 them, for ft mistake here will be vital. If we are not • 
 acquainted with the nature of, the material with which v/e 
 , have to do, we shall " labour in v^in aOd spend our s,trengtli 
 , for nougbltti, , - , ' ■ 
 
 We ^mJJPherefore remember that we have to do within 
 'fallen race. The -fathers have eaten sour grapes, and tiie 
 •children's teeth are set on edge. Humanity was bad when 
 / it came fr^m-Adam, but it is worse wlien it comes from us. 
 Many of t|ie children have a fearful heritage of traujsmitted 
 • tendencies, — tenden(iies which years of prayers, and tears, 
 /. ^ will*not destroy. \The sins of generations are concentred in 
 
 
 l,t- 
 
 J- 
 
 A< 
 
 t 
 
 *-( 
 
 
a >4 
 
 SAy£ THE CHILDREN. 
 
 165 
 
 je onr- -Jy 
 
 
 tie ouf 
 
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 ildren's 
 
 
 t many 
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 them, and those sins will be reproduced, unless pievente*! by 
 Divine interference. Angels can vJHit this world witlioi,it 
 acquiring a stain, and our great Master could say, " Satan 
 cometli, but hath nothing in Me." Not so however, w^«li "• 
 *these Jittle ones : in each breast there are combustibte* 
 
 , which a single spark may ignite, and which, once ignited, 
 way burn f(Mr even ■-/: , V-, ><< 
 
 Their danger arises, secondly, /rm the ^Aetei'mined Iwi- 
 tility of Uie greaC enemy of man. 
 
 How -thoughtlessly we utter *the words ** the devil,!^ arid 
 yet what a terrible meaning tfcey have! They bring . 
 before ua a Jbemg so vast that hia dark shadow seems to —-- 
 
 " reach almost to the gate of heaven. Thiiik of his miglJty 
 intellect, his immense experience, his iinwearying activity, 
 and remember that it is his will ^lat every one of these 
 to,tle ones should perish. Look at the inighty ones whom 
 lie has overcome. If lie conquered l^eter, David, Noah, 
 Adam, how slmll these little ones escsfoe ? Alas ! instead 
 of wondering that so^many of themifall,: war can only say, : 
 " It is^of the Lord's mercy ^hat any of tl^m Escape. It 
 must iwt^ then be'i'i^rrrtewTTJJiat, i^i» tryij^^^ to save the 
 children ? we vviestle not Avith flesl?«^)d blood uierelyv' but 
 withvprincipalities'and p'owers, and spiritual wickedness in 
 high places." ' \ '^ ^,^, . 
 
 In. the third place, tli^JHBen a^^ in danger fruni tli^ 
 
 : circumstances hj which thi^^^surroiij^dedi^ . . ** 
 
 Tke children are not bo^W Paradise, but in a woild of 
 
 '. which Satan is the prince. A Koman po'dt compared the . . 
 
 ^ ^birth of^ajchihl, to ' the shipwreck of; a sailor, on a hostile 
 
 • shore, and this comparison is tru^ or the children of our 
 own land. Look i|kto many pf the homes about us, and you 
 
 . will b6 struck with its trut|^'nlnesy. One of our poets 
 speaks of " heaven " being " arouifd us in our infancy."' It' 
 
 ' would, howe^, be frtr more correct to say of many^ of our 
 
 children that helM»^iaround them., Tiie aiB,they breathe is 
 
 ' • ' » - . ■ „ •■ f " 
 
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ff. 
 
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 SAVB THE CffltmitMM 
 
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 poison, the sounds they hear are sin. ithe father's voic^f' 
 jSfife them with terror, and tlip^ motbes^s wild jreU J? /^^ ' 
 •J^/sijfnal of despair. What chahce is fere of\i^6ii^ 
 if: either healtliy, intelligent; br *vir|mis-^f Jth)e|i^ 
 prosperous here, or saved hereafter ?;' You are;«or]3pelled to 
 sffjiV-V It had been goqd for the^ if^th^ had imV^r/been 
 
 ]#t US nairre a few or the;^advei^e circirnistancejf'vi^^^^^^ 
 meet the- children : — ■' <.v^" ;,£.■■',.;>' ,,v^' .■-, ■■'■ 'J ^j'^^]:. 
 
 Th^re ipf ifirst, the ^(mgylCtg^.^^Si0^2^xm ^niYi?rsal 
 improper langtiage has becaqij^ ! , "!Xo tipl:e a htde chUd^^ 
 ottr streets, or into; wtbiKt^t^s J^ilVfay cai^^ 
 expose its -quick ear to sounds thtit i\re ~ fV^U of pollution. 
 Blnspliemy is ,,the mother tongue of thousands of British 
 children, arid we may indeed say, " Because X)f .^earfhg wie 
 
 laud raourneth."- '-,,:# , :" ''''"'"- '"f "' 
 
 There is the giiievaf pmrse cf life. -01 the majority of 
 our f ello w-cou ntry meia^tf e may Bfty> " <GrOd js not in ^11 tli'^r 
 thoughts." Their <jhiidreri^ lire tau^lii |^ ;%e a ;ihereiy 
 aniiwal life — -to Uve^ thoiiflh tfiey 1M riei sodl, nc^iOod, no 
 
 'terrfity,.-; ■ ■.";.;;>:-. ^'"; ■■.;. . ''^J'.'"^.-'-'. ^. ■■'-''r-Ji'/V' ,"■ ,:■:.. 
 Ther^-45J^io tlie l^^mture. . tVe ■hoast of our "free 
 press," but ou?%fcerty ih^ thls^^^^^^m^ degenerj^ted ittto 
 
 liorrible licentimisness. . LooKat ti\e shop-windowS of our 
 newsagents, "and ^^Qwer:clas3.book8ellt?rs, and you will find 
 tben» full of papers containing. recoil? of" lust,rand cruelty^ 
 ind in which! there is scareely^;a Jine tbatis not an offence' 
 to Godi or, an injury to man; At eachwikidow you willse6 
 fi crowd,' of- chstldrenM eagerly* gating on loathsome . pictures, 
 which theif sensitive m^nds■ tvill at once'receive, and which 
 once received, can never b(? forgotten — pictures trjat ^m 
 coming days will be reproduced in ttii^ir livesv,*with terrible 
 agi^rayations.' Wj? hav^' Boards of Hcjaltii that look,' aftie|r 
 the' physicjil nuisances which exist, but we want sfill more 
 some Moral"- Bqiirds; who will dealvwith these pestiferous 
 
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 ' jflubllcii^iojis, vrtiioh are ruining the bodies. an3,€(oub, of our 
 yQiittft p»»oi»lei Society iias a right to prevent men from 
 coWtipting the morals of its youth. In the meantime Jet 
 meimptore those engaged in t!ie ttewspAper business to 
 
 -.'Ithink on this matter. Some of J;liem say they cannot live 
 without selling tliese things. K so, they had fafc k^tterdie 
 
 J in'ifl. workliouse, than live by that which will be tlie rtiin of 
 tl\e uhihlren around them. . > > 
 
 ( Lastly, tlttre an; the drinking hahiU and customs 0/ society ; 
 
 , Oil these I wish especially to dwell. 
 
 If other evils , have, slain, their tl^pnsands, these have 
 -slaiu their tetis of thousands. Strong drink is the^ chief 
 material enemy "gf our children. It m0^ thei^i e^i'y- 
 wliere. They will tind it In mai^ of ' tljte holiest, and 
 brightest of homes, -:— homes from which every other 
 mateii.il evil is carefully "excluded. It is put before the 
 ' children by the purejlT and best, and at times the most 
 sacred, and it is then most dangerons. Strong words^re 
 often said against the publican for the ruin he effects; ami- 
 no doubt there \18 a terri,ble account awaiting these men ; 
 
 * . but in "maiiy instairces the publicans would do little harm if 
 their prey had not been prepared for them by parents, and 
 friends. The pinnacles which bind the drunkard have^BSen 
 put on by a mothei's hand, and have only been riveted in 
 the pub],ic*.houJ»fe; Tlye-dtgire for intoxicating drink is not- 
 natural — drunkenness'''^ is not. one of the evils which come ' 
 ** oufe'of the he'art."i .The majority of the human family Jive 
 
 •; and die abstainers. Gud has thrown around each of us^a' - 
 wall of defence against strong drink, and, if that vi'all were 
 strengthe/ied, and buttressed, by Jthe teaching, and example, 
 -of parents, and ^teachers drunkenness would be unknown. 
 Our national evil is selfrcaused, and many, who are never; 
 injured tlieraselves, are the cause of uiitold evils to'. 
 others. ' - - , \ 
 
 .♦ : Take an. example.;-!- It is Christmas time, when 'every 
 
 1 
 
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 1 68 
 
 SAf^ THM CHlWRMm 
 
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 liuart is tender and itnpressible. In yonder Christian hottie 
 
 the luorning luis been ^pent in praise aiid prayer, and kindly 
 
 "ts, arid words of love. The dinner has ended, tlie dessert is 
 
 rei»d;-—nut». and oranges, and the " many good tkings the 
 
 pd earth yields," and, like Satan in Paradise,, tii^ecanter 
 
 in the mid»t. Then Willie, the bright'eyed, happy-fat 
 
 pet of the family, is brought in. He is greeted by a shI 
 
 ' welcome from the rest of the children, and feels thi|; lio 
 
 he hero of the ^ hour. The wine ia pourec^ut, a full 
 
 glass for the father and mother, and half a gfcX^for each 
 
 of the children ;-and Willie eagerly holds out his hand 
 
 for the fatal gift. The' children sniile, and the mother says 
 
 that Willie shall join witlF the rest in drinki<ig his father's 
 
 health, and in wishing hirn a merry Christmns. A few drops 
 
 of wine are poured into the glass, and by the aid of sugar, 
 
 and water, it is made palatable, and the mother's haBd p^uts 
 
 theglass to the child's lip, and, though he drinks with a wfy 
 
 %e, the warm kiss of the mother, the loving smile of the 
 
 father, and the shouts of the rest of the children, tell him 
 
 he has done a right, and brave, thing. Joyous, however, as 
 
 the group appeara, it is a scene over which angels weep, and 
 
 demons rejoice. If tlng^mother could^ see the results of 
 
 that act, there is not a^fo^sOn imder. heaven slie would not 
 
 rather have given the child thaq that. For what has been 
 
 •done ? The barrier whi^li Qod threw around the child has 
 
 been weakened, while ah aSpptlite has been created that no 
 
 human jwwer can coutrol;. .^^it a while, and Willie will 
 
 need -no sugar in the glas^ ./jTou may see him when the 
 
 'e<^mpany "leaves draining the glasses that have been used by 
 
 -others. Farther on you may see him, when returning, front 
 
 his.; holidays,' ninning into the refreshment-room lur the flasdc 
 
 pf.0irits whicli.he will hide in 1^ is breast. Yet farther on you 
 
 ^vWay^^e His motlier waiting in silence, an|l sorrow, the sound ' 
 
 J of til%;:scuflfling feet, which betoken a scene which she hides 
 
 |1«)m,every?eyfe but Iijr own ; and a Lttle farther, and Willie 
 
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 SAFE THE CHILD RE if. 
 
 169 
 
 A' 
 
 sleeps in 1^ drunkard's grave, while his parents follow him 
 tu the tomb with broken hearts. ' ^ 
 
 Men say ft is a mystery that the child of such parents 
 should make such an end. But is there any mystery in itT 
 I think not They have broken a hedge, and th(^ serpent 
 has bitten them. ^ \ 
 
 If the child should bje so favoured as not to meet the\ 
 enemy at home, as soon ^3 he leaves liis home ' the\ proba- * 
 bility is that he will mefit it in the first house he \euters.. 
 Is he invited to spend a socird evening with his young 
 friends? before the evening is over, in the majorky of 
 cases, the wine will biei offered— offered too by Christian 
 men and women. If ^he reeling drmikard wore id present 
 the glass, the child wo^uld shrink from it with horror; hut 
 when it is presented jay ar man pre eminent for wisdom, wjid 
 piety» or by a lady, ^hose praise is on every lip, the ofi^r * 
 Can scarcely be resisted. It will require more moral coura-j^ 
 to say "No" un(j(er such circumstances than a child i^ 
 likely to possess, Vid so in many instances the "table," even \ 
 in a Christian home, becomes " a snare." \ 
 
 When the ch0d has to go to business, his difficulties will ■ 
 increase. The|fe will be the example of those by whom he 
 is surrounded, /ihd to whom he has to look for instruction, 
 and, added t^ this, there will be customs with whioli the 
 drink is always associated. If the boy remains firm to his 
 early training, he will have to do it at a painful cost. 
 
 When the lad goes out into the world will liis position be 
 .improved ? One look around will give a sad reply. At the 
 corner of every stieet there is a drink-shop, made as attrac- 
 tive as wealth and skill can make it, and, as if this werenei 
 enough, the great statesman who said it was "the duty of a ', 
 State to make it easy to do right and dithciilt to do wrong," 
 so violated his own jn-inciple, tlia| the grocer.-and the pastry- 
 cook, have been' called in to aid the spirit merchant, and 
 publican, in their work of temptation. And, to complete our 
 
 ' ;s^>. 
 
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 J^iJ^nA- 
 
 
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 170 
 
 SAVE THE CHILDREN, 1 
 
 \ 
 
 -\L 
 
 iiationar difihonpur and our children's destruction, we— 
 
 calling ourselves a Christian land; placing at the coronation 
 
 of our nionarchs the Word of God in their hands, to show 
 
 that God's law is to he their rule; and compelling out 
 
 legislators to ask Divine guidance every time they meet — 
 
 have set aside the Divine law, and, while commanding every. 
 
 trade that is heneficial to man, to rest On the Sahbath-day, 
 
 have decreed that an exception, shall be made in the case of 
 
 the only trade that promotes the spread of irreligion, ignor* 
 
 r»nee, and misery ! Thus at every corner, oi^ God's holy day, 
 
 the snare is spread for the youth, by the decree of our legis-. 
 
 lators, and the sanction of our. Queen! The children have 
 
 asked for bread, and we offer them poison! They cry,. 
 
 "Lead us not into temptation," and we tempt them on 
 
 every side 1 1 
 
 ^ • ." We widen ami strew with flowoi§i"tlic way ' , 
 
 ' ' Dowu to otornnl ruin. " ': , . 
 
 I think I have said enough to^hQW^al the children are 
 in terrible peril, and if further pi-ooi-is wanted it niay easily 
 be obtained. From the pntcast who, with the smile of aii 
 apgel on her face, and the agony of a demon in her heart, ^ 
 parades our streets— from the niadmau in his-xjell^ — from 
 the criminal in his chaiijs — from the myriad* who Jiave 
 perished, and the multitudfes who are pressing after them to 
 destruction — there comes \in tones of thunder a warning 
 ory. They were once little Ichildr^, and the Church blessed 
 tliem, and njothera, as tliey J)arted their soft hair and looked 
 into their bright eyes, said, f These same shall comfort us;'' 
 ^jind yeti despite of tears, and prayers, and ble-sing, they have' 
 penslTed;T(iid, as buhmn nat^I:e is the aam^, and the Mxmo^ 
 nnelianged, we may well luoW with fear, aUd trembling, at the 
 little ones around. r 
 
 _ i,. 
 
 ■ I 
 
 H. The text reveals to ns' the will of God concern ing'th^ 
 children. It declares that it is not His will that one of them 
 
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 SAyjS THE CHILDRENi 
 
 »7« 
 
 kh(ml^ ph-xsh. In looking at tliis we mitst bear in mind 
 \that God not only raeana what He saysj but, much more than 
 He says. It is so when He says, "Him that comoth to. 
 Me I wijl in no Wise, cast out I ''A It means, not merely, that 
 He will not reject those .wha^ftto^T but that He will wel- 
 come and pardon and save them. It is so wheti Ho stiys, 
 "ThoJaruised re^d I will not break." It means that He 
 ( will strengthen, fiind bind it- up, and make it a pillar iTi His 
 
 ^ hquse, to go oi^tUo more for ever. And so h^re, when He 
 says, " It' is not His will/ that they should perish," it iucans 
 that it w His will^llthey should bo saved. Tlieie maybe 
 great diHiculties iii 't^ig why of their salvati9n; but it is not 
 iml)088ible ; no child has the brand of .reprobation on its 
 brow, "ile who made^triem all, loves them all. That (his ia 
 so, is.seiBn in His nature/ in His words, and in Hiii works. 
 
 r Hence >ve may build "oiir.BchobU,^m our Bands of H«»pe, 
 
 ,and give ourselves to the greatiWfork of their salvation, 
 
 witbnitt misgiving, and cheer, ours^es in our toil by the 
 
 old qrv of ret«r the HemLit-^*'0<^^ wills 
 
 le.. ■ . , ■-■ -■:■■,•<■_ 
 
 III. Th^Hext' clearly inlimat|S our duty to the little 
 ones. Qod's will is our la^> n If Me wills their salvation it 
 is our ^duty to labour vforj it Ii(lt)lence, and indl(l\rence 
 here is sin. It is not enough that we 'do not teiupt, or 
 hinder them. It is liot enough that we hire the sc'lioal- 
 mast^r to train, and the policemajW*/- protect , tlien/.' Per- 
 ' sonal S'ervice is demanded'as we valuethe sniileof God^ we 
 must ah'rink from no sacritice, and spare no toil. Do you 
 , ask what' you can do for this purpose? X answer first, 
 
 em])loy all the pawer you 
 out of their ^way. At hql 
 . for your " stouiach's sake 
 your other medicines, and 
 not put your razor^ pistol, 
 
 ta remove temptatMins 
 
 u iftust have strong drink '' 
 
 infirmities," keep it with 
 
 ill 1 equal care. You do 
 
 the refich of prour 
 
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 '5^Ki? 77/^ CHILDREK 
 
 . diihlren, why then should you put that whicli is infinitdy 
 more danj^crous and dcstiuctivB ? At least, let mo implore 
 you not to put it on your table ^hen the children of others 
 t»re present. If you are prepared to risk the salvation of 
 your own chiMren, do not endanj,'«»r the children of other 
 people. See to it that the blood of souls be not found upon 
 your hands. 
 
 Then, as citizens, employ all the power you possess .to put 
 *^ «^ay the legalized temptations which exist. Especially let 
 
 ' • me beseech you to look at the question of the opening of 
 ^^ ^ ^^ tl"»l«-8h«P?^ on the Sunday. Thi*i^ done by law, and you, 
 . as a part- of ^^^i|[-^'"'<«r8, will be held responsibly if it 
 continues. ^'W^^^^^ responsible for the existence of 
 every evil ^M^^K^^^^^*^ l'»« power to destroy. I lay, 
 therefore,t|hisl^^piipon your consciences^ We close the 
 mill, the shop, andWe museum, and why should these places 
 be open? The le},aslation is exceptional I ask on whose 
 ' account is the exception made? Is it on account of the 
 Church ? or our legislators ? or our merchants ? or our 
 , manufacturers? or our tradesmen? or the true working- 
 men ? I answer, Ao f If this 'statement is doubted, let thft 
 
 doubter next Sunday examine tl)e(|pin88 of men, who wiU bo 
 
 _ found there. I have gone again and again, that I might not 
 
 • be mistakefi, m^ I have found the contpany to consist entirely 
 
 oT the foppish, the ignorant, the dirty, and the vicious; and, 
 
 as I have seen these places empty on the Sabbath evening, 
 
 1 have wished that our legislators were there that they might 
 
 ; /decide for themselves whether these are the persons on 
 
 . .whose account 'we ought to insult God, and dishonour our 
 
 '"country. This question rests main];^ with the Christiiiu 
 
 Church. As soon as the Christian people of this country 
 
 - will it, the iniquitous traffic will c^nise; and surely,. if we 
 
 can. agree on notjiiiig eI|e,'Mre might agree to unite our ijiflu- ., 
 
 ence to free our lartd ^om this. \ As soon as the Church ' 
 
 .. agrees to make this a vital question, her will wiU be obeyed, 
 
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 ,\ 
 
 SA^E TMlfWf^^g^- >73 
 
 nnd whon thin evil h rutiiuvt'd, ■n^^^^^jil hen von mu\ 
 uurth will roH upon her. 
 
 — jWe inu8t next Hqe to it tlm^^^^^^!^ chihlrt'ti nn 
 example which they can nil mj\i^ff/lmnte. Itenieniher 
 that, children are born iiiLiUitorH. Kvery look\ word, act is 
 noticed. Their niindn urc " soft us wax to receive an 
 impreHMinn, and Vi^'id aa niiirhle to retain it" Uence we 
 
 ..cannot but exert u tremendous inlluence over them. From 
 us they learn what to do, utul what to avoid. Wo shoidd 
 therefore never utter a word which wt would not like 
 
 Tthcni to repeat, nor perform an act wo woiild iiot wish 
 tliem to imitate. To take stron<4 drink may not endanger 
 you, but it may bo full of danger to the little ones who are 
 around, and therefore I beseech you, in the name of my 
 Master, not to put a stunibling-l)lock, or an occasion to full, 
 in your children's way. ; 
 
 Wa must also be careful to give the children correct 
 infornuition. They know nothing by intuition, but have to 
 obtoin their knowledge from us. How eagerly they ask, 
 and how implicitly they receive the reply ! Their father's 
 word is to them nn end of all controversy. Be careful then 
 not to mislead them on any subjoit, and especially on the 
 imporUint subject of strong drink. An error here may bo 
 fatal. Pon't tell them it is a good creature of God, except 
 in the sense in whicli you say it of gunpowder, and strych- 
 nine. Do not perpetuate the delusion which has ensnared 
 and ruined so many of the present generation. Tell tlieni 
 it is a "mocker". — a "deceiver" — to be avoided as they 
 would avoid a serpent,' or an adder, and a sober country 
 .Hhall be your reward. 
 
 Set to work and establish a Band of Hope in the church 
 to Avhich you belong. Appeal to the children's sociai 
 nature, and do counteract the temptations by which they 
 Are surrounded. This is a jart of the week-day work to. 
 
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 (716) 4«2 - 0300 ^PtKHW 
 (716) 288 -5989 -Fox 
 
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 «74 
 
 SA VE TBE CHILD REN. 
 
 which every church is qalled, andno church is blameless 
 that neglects it. A church may do. without- a spire, an 
 
 .organ, or even, a choir,*T)ut it cannot ^d6 the work of the 
 present day without a "-Band of Hope! Those things are 
 luxuries ; this is a necessity. Till this, is done, her children 
 will not be safe, , ; ,. 
 
 i^stlyi we nmst giye ourselves to prayer. .Without 
 
 "God we can do nothing. Think of the pnemies with which 
 you have to conteiid, think ol' your own weakness, and then 
 
 I," to your tents, O Israel 1" Eemember you can " move 
 the Arm that moves the world." Plead with the children ; 
 plead with the. parents; plead with our- legislators-; but, 
 above all, plead with God, and in alJswer.to your cry He 
 will pour you out a blessing there shall not be room to 
 
 •receive.. . * .- 
 
 Do you need incitements to engage in this important ■ 
 work? Surely not; but if you do, let me remind you of 
 the children's value. When the two " Wodlwich Infants " 
 sank in the dock, every newspaper in England recorded it, 
 and no pains, or cost, were spared to i^cover them. But 
 what-are these to a God-made little child, i Looked at in 
 the light of the Cross and in the light of eternity, we shall 
 see our richest treasures to be but baubles by its side." 
 
 •'.The gun is but a spark of fire, 
 A transient mteor in the sky ; >^ ^ 
 
 The chUJ, immortal as its sire, . ; . ' 
 Can neyer die." 
 
 Think also of i\ie children's danger. If a %e were to 
 break out, and the news came that a single child— ay, a 
 beggar's child— was in danjger of perishing in tlie flames, 
 how soon would this .service end, and all of us gladly 
 imperil our lives to attempts its deliverance ? Here there 
 is not Qn€ child in danger, but wtV/iowSj and the danger is 
 not merely to the body, but the soul. The destructivfi'aggnt 
 
 
 'v. 
 
 
1i\ 
 
 
 SAVE THE CHILDREN. 175 
 
 is at work as I speaic, and, unless the children are soon 
 saved, they will be lost for even 
 
 .'?' Men of God, to you they cry, ' 
 '^ . ' Save, savo us ere we Oie — • 
 
 ^ • Die in (lurk despair ! '" 
 
 Thiiflc also of the Divine wilt. God iq the Fattier of the 
 jhildren; we are the servants. He will come by and by 
 and ask, ''Where are the children ?" and woe to us if, 
 thjroufi;hon'r selfishness or idleness, they have perished. 
 
 Think of the reward you mill have if you succeed. There 
 will be the joy of witnessing their? happiness here ; tlTere^ 
 will he the bliss of enjoying their eternal gratitude, and 
 love ; there will be the ecstasy of hearing the Great Father 
 say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" 
 
 Can we titesitate in the presence of considera|ions such 
 as these? Surely not. The unnatural appetite "shall be 
 ovei:comje ; the early-formed habit be broken ; .the dangerous 
 custom be given up. Every needed saf;rifice .shall be made, 
 and every possible effort on behalf of the little ones put 
 forth, Tha lambs shall be shelterediand defended asWell 
 as (ed ; and, by the blessing of .^^ upon X]w|||i^bouii5, we 
 shall at last stand before the gr<»at white throne and say, 
 "Here are we, and the children Thou gavest us!" 
 
 "(^ 
 
 
I 
 
 »>'>- i'lBf". 
 
 i^ 
 
 XIII. 
 
 THE FAITHFUl SERVANT AND BIS RJ^WARD} 
 
 "His- lord said unto him, Well do^e, good and faithful servant^ thou Jiast 
 been faithful over a few things, I w ill nink* thee ruler over rtany (lungs: 
 enter tbou into tlie-joy of thy lord."— Matt. xxv. 23. ^ \ 
 
 rpHlS is one of the rnost solemn and instructive diaptera^ 
 ^ in the' Bible; It is compiete in itself. ' It sliows us 
 our position, bur duty, and the results of our conduct, 
 whatever that conduct may be. A^jjlfen JronV it Ihat ptir 
 present state o| existence is not fiilipRhat before -eiic If pf 
 us is eternal Hfe, or eternal deal^ and that biir position; 
 hereafter, depends upon our c(»ndiict here.; The parable of' 
 the ten virgins, shows us our Anty to ourselves. That we 
 must watch over our owil^hearts, and take care to live with 
 our lamps trimmed, and' our lights burning,'; so that at. last 
 we may not have to utter the sad wail: "They made me a\ 
 keeper of vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept." 
 The parable of tli^ servants, shows us our duty to oiJiers, and 
 warns us against selHshhess in religion., against shutting 
 ourselves up in oui* own privileges, and pleasures. Beading, 
 meditating, and praying, but forgetful of the perishing ones 
 around. The one' parable cries Watch ! The other cries , 
 Work! Then in the last verses, in words that thrill and 
 awe the most careless,, we have a rehearsal of the scenes of 
 the last day, and we^ see that in the transactions of that . 
 day there will be nothing arbitrary. That the freedom and 
 * A Fnneral Sermon for Joseph Livesey, the founder of Teetotalism. 
 
r. 
 
 ) % 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT, 
 
 >77 
 
 ■■4 
 
 responsibility of men will be reapected. That we each have 
 our destiny in our own handB. That tlie obedient, jwill 
 receive eternal life, and that the rebellions, will be doomed 
 to et'er^ial death, and that thireAvill l)e nO respeet of* persojj^. 
 In. tJie text we see afaiUifulscrvrnt, and his reward, mA 
 T select it as descriptive of the life and reward 'qf our 
 venerable and departed friend, Joseph Li vesey,'tlie father of 
 the great Temperance reformation. 
 
 , ■ ^ ■ ^.. ■ ' ■■ , ' '.'■■.'. 
 
 \. Look at the faithful servant. There are several things 
 
 • respectiii^ liim that'l wish you to notice, as illustrating our 
 own positidh. He was a " servant," one who is dependent.. 
 upon, and |-esponsible to, another. It is important for us^ 
 ever to 'Mr in mind, that whatever be our position in .the 
 
 'Churcfi, 0^ the world, tbis is the character of every one of. 
 U9. I oi'tfen hear men spealc as if God bad ho claim upon 
 
 \^inners. (They say, when urged to obey God's law, "Oh, 
 iWke no prehensions to b^ihg religious ! " as if rebellion, or 
 neglect, fleed them from responsibility. This is a huge, nnd;. 
 terribMlunder. The man who bid liis talent, was as iiuich, 
 a servaW, as he wjio by diligent trading made his live 
 talents pto ten. And. so with us • wie are all servants, 
 whether wVown our Master or not- whUher we i)bey Him' 
 or not.. ThVonly diffi^jrence betwi^n u^ is. that sotne are . 
 *'gdod>nd fakhful," while others artr" wicked and slothful." 
 1 prayf you t6 see to it that you clearly, ascertain the 
 cLar^icler you b^ar.. 
 
 V It marks an ek in a man's life when he discovers this,' 
 and wh^n seein^v himself to be a rebel, iie comes 4n • 
 penitence to the throne of grace, and obtains forgiveness. 
 When losing his wh will in ihe wiU of his Mastei', he can. ^ 
 say, "liivef yet nbt I, but Christ li\reth in me." This- 
 periud is dearly maiiced" out in the Autobiogtapliy of our 
 departed friend, and iWive it in his own words :^ 
 \l was about sevent^jQn when I became acquainted with 
 
 "• ■.<. 
 
 d 
 
(^•' 
 
 178 
 
 r^ FAITHFUL SEaVANT. 
 
 %■. 
 
 I.. -I 
 
 a family of the name of Portlock, the heads cuf which, and 
 some of the memlXirej, were decidedly religious. They . 
 were Baptists, and very kind to me. I was soon impressed ^ 
 with the importance of religion, and began to attend the 
 T^nptiat. Chapel. Charley, one of their sons, and Thomas 
 JoUy,jun., and-" I, became close companions. Our souls 
 seethed k$it" together, and many' a happy night hare we 
 speht in talking upon religious subjects. The result was 
 /tliat Charles and I were baptized together, I believe, in the 
 'year 1811, in the Baptist Chapel, which stood where St. 
 Saviour's has been newly erected. Thomas Jolly waa 
 baptized some time after. I felt a strong conviction that 1 . 
 \yas doing the will of God in this service, though it was in , 
 opposition to the wishes and entreaties of my grandfather 
 and other relatives. To me it was a'day of great enjoyment. . 
 I remember well, after the baptism was over, joining with 
 great 'fervour in singing the hymn-^ 
 
 r ..'■... ■ ■ ■ ■ 
 
 . "'Jesua! and shall it ever be, 
 
 A mortal man ashamed of Thee, 
 
 Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise, ' ' '=' — ^ 
 
 Wh69ejp;l6ry shines to endless days ! '" . \ 
 
 " The retutn of Sunday was to me a feast of good things; 
 all the fervency of youtSti an|l the zeal' of a new convert 
 were added to a deep cohvifction df the importance of 
 religion. With* What delight did I use to go, in my clogs, 
 to Preston> to the evening prayer-meetings held in the 
 vestry! 1 have still in my possession Watts' hymn-book, 
 which 1 bought at the time. On the inside of the front . 
 coyel" is. written, * Joseph Livesey's Book, 18.11.' On a 
 blank leaf is the following: 'Is any merry, let him sing 
 Paalms. James v. 13.' And at the end is this verse— r- - 
 
 / X^. / '• * Hope is my he 'r , *.^ 
 
 t \./ Thy Word, my God, the sword I wield J 
 
 IX, With sacred tnith my loins isre girt, - • - V . 
 
 : [ \4"d holy zeal inspires my heart."' 
 
 
 

 things; 
 
 convert 
 
 ance of 
 
 y elogs, 
 
 in the 
 
 m-book, 
 
 16 front 
 
 On a 
 
 im sing 
 
 rse-^-:^,/ ". 
 
 \ "'■■ ■-■■■- ~. . ' . -x - 
 
 tA£ faithful servant. 
 
 179 
 
 Hnppy will it be for each of uft if we h^ej^m^xle the 
 same decision, and are following the sam^^^Hotm.'^Itiis , 
 the only way to useftilness on earth aiul happfij^es» ii*Tie(iv6rtf ? ' 
 
 The servant was^^entrusted. with sonie ol hiis rnautelr'a 
 property, ille received "two talents "-^a talent will . 
 represent atiout j^250 of our money — so that he ireceived ^ 
 ■CoOO. This money was. not his own^ hufhis master's. 
 He was not the proprietor, but a steward/ It is so with us; 
 whatever we have belongs to ai^other, and is only entrusted 
 to us f(5r a limited period. " Wliat have ye that we have 
 f not received ? " " We brought nothing into the world, and 
 it is certain we can carry nothing out" Men are often 
 puffed up with eonceit because th^y possess powers which 
 are not possessed by others ; but the^very language that is 
 usecl respecting them^wlien they ar&^said to 1)© "talented" 
 is borrowed from this parab|e, and should remind them of 
 their responsibility to the Great Proprietor. 
 
 The talents bestowed upon the servants varied in th6ii 
 nninber: "To one he gave five talents, to another two, 
 and to another one ; to every man according to his several 
 ability." So if is with us; our talenti) vary; and some 
 have many, some have few; but all have some.' In the 
 word '' talent " we may include, all we have, and all we are. > 
 Physical strength, moral power, social position, wealth, 
 learning, influence, and religious privileges, ai» all talents, 
 and are all the property of our Ma"ster. 
 
 These talents are given to us to be used aci^ording to the 
 will of the Proprietor. Thus, Hot only open rebellion, but 
 indolence is sin, sin that, if continued in, will bring the 
 severest punishment Our talents are left for a\time abso- 
 lutely at our own disposal There is no coercion, no 
 / external interference ; weh may invest them, or waste therii, 
 or hide them, a.s we think best It is so with\aU our . 
 Ttalentsi as we well know, i Take wealth : we may sWnd it 
 /in luxury; on sin^or in doing good ; in the service of God, 
 
 ^x. 
 
!■ ■; '^ 
 
 V.--Y-:-:-:- 
 
 '■"•V: 
 
 iSo 
 
 THE*FAJTJII<UZ SERVANT. 
 
 11 
 
 in- 
 
 or of nmn, or of the devil ; we niay make it a blrssing, or a 
 curse — " a friqnd that shall receive us nnto liahitntionV' iir 
 "a witness against ua," whoso testimony sliall never be 
 sihMJt. So with speech: with it we may "bless God" 
 or "curse men." And so with all the rest; we may, /or 
 a //«/<!,. use them as we plertse. 
 
 They are entrusted to us for a limited period; the ex- 
 tent of that period is unknown. The Master, when Ho left 
 us, told us that He should return Whc^n least expected. It is^ 
 
 . certain that He will rettirn.biit uncertain when. " Ye know 
 neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Mali cometh." 
 At the beginning of his life Mr. Livesey was not on- 
 trtisted with many talents; fewer it was scarcely possil»le 
 for him to possess. He was born at Walton-le-dale, near 
 I'leston, on 6th March 1794. His parents were poor,' 
 
 ^ hard-working people, of delicate constitution, aiid they both 
 died when he was seven years of age. An old woman 
 wlio kept a dame's school was his only teacher. On his 
 parents' debth he ^ya3 taken to the home of his grandfather. 
 Adverse circumstances deprived the grandfather of the little 
 property that he possessed, and as there was "little to earn 
 a(id many to keep," the orphan lad had to go into a damp 
 cellar, and learn to work the handLom in order to eke 
 out the family income. As one looks at the boy, inheriting 
 consumptive tendencies from both his p{\rents, with the 
 fnerest rudiments of education, toiling from early morning 
 till late at night in a cellar, thei dar p of which produced 
 rheumatism that became his life's torment, it seems scarcely 
 possible to imagine '*'a more unpromising beginning, and 
 difficult to name the talents which he possessed. He had, 
 however, two, and these two were beyond price- They . 
 were strong common-seiise and a resolute will ; i^id with 
 these he triumphed over all his difficulties, secured for 
 himself a position of great social influence, became a public 
 benefactor, and won a name that princess might envy. 
 
2 HE FAITH tUL SERVAtJT. 
 
 |8i 
 
 II, Ld tts look at (ht conduct of the aercant, lie wus not 
 eliiUd with pride bucauso ho had more than others, nor was 
 ho doprossod with envy because ho had loas. Ho reallztnl 
 his responsibility, and at onco sot-to work to make the best 
 possible use of the trust committed to him. Thus every 
 (lay that passed recorded "something attempted, somethiu;/ 
 done." He invested his talent wisely ; he not only 
 guarded what lie had, but added to it daily, and thus, 
 as wo say, "he made money." We are told he was" good " 
 and "faithful^" his goodness referring tp his character, 
 and his faithfulness referring to his'coududt. While faith- 
 ful to his master, he was got)d to his brethren, and the 
 manifestation of his goodness is seen in the re.x^hition tluit 
 follows,. Wo are told in the following verses that ho fed 
 the hungry/gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, 
 befriended the stranger, visited the sick, and sought and 
 saved the lost. His creed was 8ho>ip) by his conduct ; his 
 loyalty to God, by his love "to mai^K^And we may depend 
 upon it that a religion that is nc|. so shown, however 
 correct maybe its creed, and however orderly its cere- 
 monials, will 6e found at the last day to be " vain." Fsiith 
 without works is dead, and from such faith the living God 
 turns away with abhorrence, and cries, " Little children, let 
 no man deceive you ; he that doeth righteousness is right- 
 eous." "He that loveth not his brother, whom he hath 
 seen, how cam he love God, whom he hath not seen*?" 
 "Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother 
 have need, and shulteth up his compassion from him, huw 
 dwelleth the love of God in him?" " Pure religion, and 
 undefiled before God' and the F^ither, is this, To visit the 
 fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep him-- 
 self unspotted from the world.'^ In this way Mr. Livesey's 
 religion was shown, and there is not a word in the recital 
 of the good deeds of the faithful servant contained in the 
 Soth and 36th verses that may not be addressed to hiuL 
 
 » 
 
.^■ 
 
 • 'l 
 
 *. 
 
 4J 
 
 ■ I ! . . 
 
 f 
 r 
 
 •'•'*^, 
 
 i8s 
 
 77/4!i FAITHFUL SERVANT, 
 
 In his efforts to lift up the fallen, and comfort the aorrow- 
 ful, he was met at every step by the ginnt curse of intt^ni- 
 perance. The drinking habits of the people frustrated all 
 his attempts to place them in their right position. With 
 his natural practical energy he set to work to find a remedy 
 for tlie evil. Having found that remedy in total absti- 
 nence, he at once gave himself to it*, advocacy. Like the 
 Apostle Paul, he could say, "ThisVne thing I do;" and 
 for many years his supreme anxiety was for the spread of 
 the Temperance cause. In this work he was greatly dis- 
 appointed at the opposition he met with from the Christian 
 Church. Hard and cruel things were said against both 
 bim, and the movement he had inaugurated. Insult, and 
 persecution, were employed; and, irritated by the conduct 
 of those who knew not what they did, Mr. Livesey dis- 
 associated himself from the visible Church, and remained 
 apart to the end of his life. It would have been" better if 
 he had borne the rebuffs he met with, and so have fought 
 the battle of Temperance inaide the Church, as well as 
 outside. The Church is the natural honae of Temperance, 
 and it is only as the Church identifies herself witb it, that 
 permanence, and victory, is ensured. Had he retained his 
 position it woiifd have prevented a great deal of unnatural 
 friction, tfnd have greatly benefited *both the Church, and 
 the cause of Temperance. However, it is not for me to 
 ♦* judge another man's servant" I have no doubt but 
 that he did that which he thought best, and the wisest of 
 us are not always wise. 
 
 The Apostle John says, "He that dwelleth in love 
 dwejleth in God, and Ood in him." And Coleridge says — 
 
 *' He prajeth best, who loveth best. 
 All things both gTftit and small ; 
 For the good Lonl, that loveth iw, 
 He made uud loveth all." 
 
 Judged by this test, Mr. Livesey's religion was of a high 
 
 S\ 
 
 i:._. 
 
m 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 183 
 
 K t 
 
 
 v:- 
 
 type. Hu lovud all (iod's croiitiiroH. Loved flitworn, niul 
 / tre«8, 011(1 iiiountttiiiH, luul the uii^lity sou. Ix)V(!d hirdu 
 aud horHOH^ ft»*l >^11 tli^ dumb cruaturus around liiin. 
 jn^^Ei'l'eciftlly he l()vt'd liis ftdlow-inan, and the weuk«r, and 
 poorur, luid tliu nioro du^^raded, tlio duepor, and thu inoro 
 1^ ' t«nih|r tiiH love. Littlu uliildren were drawn to him lijko . 
 particles of J^eel to a naignct, and no nmtter how poor, or 
 iAjorant, or niiHerablo, they were, he ever showed himself 
 their friend, and spared no pains to elevate, and bless them. 
 Illustrations pf, this, press in on every side ; but luy space 
 ill not allow me to mention them. Let ine content my- 
 self with one. For some years he used to carry, in his 
 pocket canls, with this inscription upon them : " To pro- 
 mote cleaidiness, and decency, Mr. Livesey will pay any 
 hairdresser one penny who cuts the hair of this poor boy ;" 
 and wherever he met with an unkempt waif, he gave hini 
 one of these prds. In this way habits pf neatness, and 
 cleaidiness, >^ro induced in many a lad, for whom no one 
 else jiaiLfl^y prattical synipathy. 
 
 For Wp^rrowing^sufiTering, and iB^nful among his fellow- 
 townsineri, jfiis care was constant. ^1(Ils life, was one long 
 €[ffort to hpnefit them. To accoinplish fchis, he spared' no 
 money, or /time, or labour. He would employ no deputy in 
 this worlfi but with earnest iteration he wateh^ over them * 
 as if they were his own children. Forty ^ears ago he could 
 say, " There is not a working man in Prieston withNvhom I 
 have i>bt a personal acquaintance, and with>whose habits I 
 am not acquaiiited." He us^d to say, " Christ's life was a 
 continual act of blessing. He welit about doing good ; an 
 if we profess to be His followers we ought to coW His 
 example." That hc/^diii this iii a pre-eminent degree is 
 well known to^att who had the prtvilege of a personal 
 /Acquaintance, His modesty, however, was such, and Ms 
 way (^J^oing good so gentle and unobtrusive, that a tithe 
 gp^^ia benevdlence will never be known till the final 
 
 \- 
 
 /■ 
 
 /■ 
 
 7 
 
i'l 
 
 •'^^i 
 
 ' li 
 
 i 
 i rfi. 
 
 ■ ! 
 
 ■84 
 
 Tim PAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 »«}■.,« timt I l,uve u„v«r k„o«n |,i. ,„,„„i, „„,| u„a j „ 
 
 e,t>,.mt,o„ tlu, l„.«t ,„«n,l., co„r,o for th« Chri.liu,, (;i,u,i 
 to take ,», ,„ i|,„ ro«|«ct, to hnitat., In» cxuinplo. W« „h, 
 
 ... . ov»,« wal, » l,dl witl,i,H to a .l„„p„r |,.,„ |,.,y.,„;, : 
 
 .0 ..mn c,™ for ihmr ,oul,. No Cl.rtaian ,...l..« Z 
 
 ,IU,y „ KHie., and no lovi„« |,a,.d i, ,„.,a „,.^ ,„ „t^„X 
 
 .nd ,»VM tl,«,.. Every „„«, ,„d thon so,n„ " l,itl.,r .1... " 
 
 l.ke « .veil of tl,o lOHt, ,t«rtl.« us f„„„ „„r ,i„f„ 11,)^. 
 
 ( w 1 "''''r"""""»' "'"' 'I"". «" quietly to sloop „w ,, 
 rirt '",;""■ "'"^"'"i"" l."« '«» called to di,M,,, tiu, 
 
 „ 1!,''° ": "'-""• "■'»' ■'« ".ys ">. thi» mil.joct :— 
 of .1,1 '" '""""''.""""» •■""1 "«"i" t» i-oiniiid our toetotallors 
 
 "f ^ <l.-..;'«loctod duty of ris.V,„,„,. Unl.s, « ,;,/ 
 
 to the pyU,iu Kioat-mass will rGmaii, untaught ami 
 ....care,! for. In all our Te„,pemnc« lal„,„rs wo sl,„,U i: 
 
 v,t ll""/ "'■*• ?'"•'■" "•""•«""=" "" "'" -"""."1- 
 .i.«..ts into t„M, one U,„g. this— 'Thou sl.alt love ,l,v 
 
 ..«.. . K,ur a, .hysolf But how can we bo said to l„vo o ,^ 
 
 . m.,j;l,lK,ur wl.ou, we never see, never call upon, „„d never 
 
 .M,u.,e alter? Many teetotaller, are foudl, .den.onstr" 
 
 r ' i , ^ ■•' "■"• ""'* " ""''" «">' '»"™ Christian view 
 t«ht»,o,e m voting and teaching the residents of the 
 
 fn ?fl ','","!,"'" '^'"''•'"'''- ■■'=»'«"'«'•">« that we are all of 
 
 2 f: ';;;'"""'",'" "« «'""«P»re..t. Here indeed shines 
 
 .« hught example of the Lord Jesus. The inUncsts of 
 
 lowlv it '''^''«'' f ,"' '!'<' con,panionsl,ip of the 
 
 lowly. l,e Jews „,,uld have condenmed to death the 
 wu...an taken in adulte.^ but what says .fesn, > ■ Hrft to 
 
 ♦ 
 
THE FAITHFUL SERVANT, 
 
 185 
 
 do /coiulomii th«o; /70, and tin no more' IUmuI His con- 
 voMiitiori with tlio woman of Hinimrin-— ron« who hiul juid 
 five hu8haii»l8, mni wuh then living with a niuu who whh not 
 her hnHhand. How dilli'icnt tiio tontj of His di«(!om«o to 
 that of many of His loUowors I Tho Hanio kind and coni- 
 passionatu luuUng was displayed at Simon's hii|i|u-r-taldo, , 
 whcru tho woman, a gri»at ' siiiner,' wanhud 4fts i'mi with 
 hur tears, and wiped them with the huira of her head. 4 
 
 What a eontrast is tlio teaching of Christ's parables with ^ . '^ 
 that of others I The prodigal son's return, and the father's ' v^ 
 
 heart overflowing with compassion ; the good Hamuritau V * 
 
 taking pity and relieving tI»o man who had fallen among 
 thieves, and who was passed by and left snll'oring by tho / 
 
 priest and the Lovito— these are certain lessons of love and 
 pity which we should all iniinae. If one in a hundred j^ 
 iwtray, He teaches us that we sliould seek him out ami • 
 
 bring him back, rejoicing more over Ids rentoration than / ; 
 over the ninety and nine who remained in tho foM. It is y ■'. 
 a question for Temperance people to consider Seriousty how ,.. 
 greatly behind they are— in love, compassion, pity, kind- 
 ness, and self-denial — their Great Teachtr, who went about 
 doing good. Wawimt uwro practical rclif/um ; more feeling, 
 more sympathy for/ the sufferings of others. We should 
 seek out, and save, if possibh;, those who appear to bt; lost. 
 'TheVant of sympathy,' said a late judge, 'is the sin of ^ 
 
 this age..' H visiting yras made a Christian duty, not " 
 
 merely the duty of a committee, but the duty of all, accordw • 
 ing to their time and opportunities, we sliould then huvo a 
 full acquaintance witlk. each other, learning -iS bear one ^ 
 another's burdens, an»l thus fulfil the law of Christ. The 
 influence ot caste seems to be getting worse. A change is 
 greatly needed. As much as possible we "should all mix . . 
 together, the rich and the poor, the wise^aiul the unwise/ 
 the good and the wicked. Not that we need to renounce 
 either pr i v a to property or private right s , but the mixing — ;• ' ; • 
 
i8d 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 -^-. 
 
 BC,/ 
 
 should be one of kindness, humility, love, charity, and 
 goodwill. 
 
 •a do deeply lament the indifference of many people in 
 view of the overspreading calamities of our country from 
 the drinking system. Ignorance, poverty, ' vice, crime, 
 lunacy, and irreligion abound; and yet how many persons 
 are conterft with 'attending their place of worship.' and 
 though they weekly— some daily—pass the doorsteps of 
 thousands of poor souls lost by taking drink, their 
 ' bowels of compassion ' towards such seem wholly inactive. • 
 Ministers ought, like their Master, to be the ' friends of 
 publicans and sinners.' If a minister wishes to be really 
 useful; he should visit the 'slums.'' If he wants to get a ^ 
 correct view of the morals and conduct of the people, he 
 Bhould be in the streets— the worst streets^-on a Saturday 
 night until public-house closing time. By such an example; 
 members of his congregation would also be induced to 
 labour and seek out and try to save those that are being 
 lost. What should we say of our street-sweepers if they 
 were always sleeping in the clean places, avoiding altogether 
 the filth , and dirt of the back streets, accumulating and 
 spreading their pestiferous effects all around ? What sliould 
 we say of our medical men if infectious diseases were 
 allowed to get so rife as to destroy thousands for want of 
 their attendance, their time being taken up with those who 
 least need them ? I hold it eqiially important that quite as 
 great efforts-should be made to remove moral as physical 
 evil, especially by those who are paid for doing the work. 
 
 "If the ministers of religion would determine upon this 
 and take th^lea4 there arp, I believe, in every congregation 
 a number wlio ^yould be glad to eng;age in the work. With 
 true Christian zeal, with virtuous self - denial and per- 
 severance, on the part of' the religious and Temperance 
 people, I should have no dpubt of a great change in the 
 conduct and habits of the people. Multitudes of our fellow-. 
 
 j»i — 
 
* V 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SMRVA.VT. 
 
 187 
 
 creatures are lost for want of l>eing looked aCiter by those 
 who are able. Many live and die, nobody caring for them. 
 "I know that we have a number of good men who 
 delight in this work; and the number would be vastly 
 iTicreased if the leading spirits in each society would make 
 a fresh start It is to help such that I propose giving a 
 few hints as to how they should proceed in their work. I 
 said before thi^i!||o time can be wrong for engaging in the 
 work of viaitawm. But J/ always found Sunday forenoons 
 the best of all times. The men are then at home, and often 
 on the stool of repentanc^Jroni the previous night's fuddle. 
 The drink - shops are closed; it is the p||blican's half- 
 holiday, and we should take advantage of it. I will here 
 suppose that we have only two hearty devoted persons^frora 
 «rtch place of worship (and this would make, say in sleh a 
 town as Liverpool, the goodly number of at ieiast 600 
 teetotal missionaries); let these make their arrangements 
 on the Saturdfiy night as to the time and place of labour tor 
 tlie following forenoon, and provide themselves with plenty 
 of handbills ; or, if more desirable, let them follow our old 
 plan, meeting together and starting from a central room. 
 Let these missionaries go to where the hard drinker^ reside, 
 '—and the difficulty is not to find where they do reside, 
 but a c district without theiti,— and I should always give 
 preference to the neighbourhood of the church or chapel 
 where the visit9r8 attenol. " Their calls will have to be 
 guided partly by what they learn in the neighbourhood (for 
 if they ask to be shown the houses where the drinkers live 
 there will be plenty ready to give the information), and 
 partly by what they see, for dirty door -steps, broken 
 windows, and other indications of the effects of drink will 
 not be long to seek. Of course in these visitations the 
 backsliding teetotallers will Ije specially looked after. Our 
 friends, with papers in hands, and a familiar ' good morning,' 
 will soon get a hearing. In many cases they will not need 
 
 .-** : 
 
 
4^ 
 
 i88 
 
 THE FAITIlfUL SER VANT. 
 
 to ask leave, but will be invited to come in. The poor 
 fellows who are enslaved to drink are apt to cherish the 
 idea that nobody cares for them; and when you go aftd sit 
 down by their fireside, and talk to them in a kind and 
 sympathizing spirit, they are delighted to find that they 
 « have some one who is still anxious for their welfare. The 
 wife is sure to be with you, and to do all she can to make 
 your words impressive, and the children listen with deli«'ht 
 In njo^Tcases you will find that these men have tried 
 teetotalism, and they will tell you how happy they were 
 when they k.ept it If tliere should be opposition (as there 
 will be in some places), let no hard words escape, or bad 
 temper be shown, ^nd avoid wasting time by any cpn- 
 tioversy, taking care to close the call by leavincr them 
 something to read, which is a good preparation fur the next 
 visit. These visitors will not go many times before they 
 will be known, and their calls expected; and the household 
 improvements even by a few visits will soon be visible 
 This I would call the first part of our teetotal work among 
 the masses. • 
 
 "Another work will unavoidaby follow. In all the back 
 
 streets on Sunday forenoons are groups of idlers, many of 
 
 them young men, whose attention will be excited by the 
 
 visitors with papers in their hands ; and in most cases they 
 
 will not be allowed to pass without some observations To 
 
 stop and speak to tliese people is an important duty • it is 
 
 peihaps the only chance that can be had of meeting with 
 
 them disennaged, and out of the drink-shop. This chance 
 
 should always be embraced, and good tact, good temper, and 
 
 great forbearance will be here required. Beware of Ion" 
 
 controversies, and avoid all offensive reference to reli-Jon 
 
 Keep to teetotalism, and to the benefits and happiness of 
 
 abstaining from drink. These little gatherings are of great 
 
 impoitance. and in such places as I have in view they can 
 
 be improvised any time. Visits.like these, conducted in a 
 

 THE FAITHFUL SERVANTi 
 
 189 
 
 Chrisman spirit, cannot fnil to benefit the masses, nnd they 
 constitute the only agency by which we can reach a great 
 majority of drinking people, and especially the young. Next, 
 if we would do the work well, is to arrange as many plain, 
 homely, public meetings as possible in the densely-populated 
 parts of our towns. Every street should b9 made to feel 
 the agitation in some shape or, other. If it be winter, 
 obtain the loan of schoolrooins, or outhouses, or. cottages— 
 if no better can be done. These meetings should be made 
 well known, stilting that a number of reformed characters 
 will attend to give their experience. Our plan used to be 
 this^ — to send a man round all the streets in the locality 
 with a watchman's rattle for an hour or so before the time. 
 The children were specially attracted, and wpiild follow the 
 man in his. round, carrying home the anrfo^mcement. By* 
 these inexpensive means meetings get well known and well 
 attended^ Many such gatherings has ^r old friend 'Dicky 
 Turner' (aiithor of the word 'teetotal') aiwiou need With 
 his rattle. Of Course in summer buildings will seldom be 
 wanted, as th« meetings will be generally held in the 6pen4 
 air. I never found a difficulty in getting a hearing in the'j' 
 'slums,' especially from the females; wi\^ j^r tlieir saJccs 
 alone we should exert ourselves in every place. We keej) 
 complaining of the increase of female drinking, and what 
 are we doing to lessen it ?. Next to nothing, except 
 denouncing ' Gladstone's Wine Bill ' •! Let it, however, be 
 distinctly understood that the plan "I advocate is neither 
 intended to 'supplant nor supplement the present modes of 
 labour which have been proved to be really effective, but to 
 take its proper place iii the front rank of the agencies for a 
 Temperance reformation^ 
 
 " Now the kind of work I have referred to should not be 
 spasmodic, similar to a %ipnth's mission.' We should go 
 on the year round, all taking a part ; with \Y^kly meetings 
 in central situations, constant agitations anioti^" the masses 
 
 I"' 
 
 
 
 
190 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 V 
 
 in the back streets, and Sunday labours similar to wliat I 
 liave described, better days I hope are in prospect, but not 
 without sound principles, and more energy in working them 
 out. If Paul's spirit ' was stirred in him ' when he saw the 
 city of Athens wholly given to idolatry, ought we not to 
 feel the same when we see the worship of Bacchus eclipsij.g 
 all others ? We should be like the early disciples, of whom 
 It was said, ' They that had turned the world upside down 
 are come hither also.' / recommend nothing hit what I have 
 pradiml myeelf, and of which I understand all the details. 
 
 " Unpleasant as it seems to many to be mixed up with 
 poor people, it always seemed to be my duty and pleasure to 
 visit such. When I have travelled abroad, or visited the 
 large towns at home, I never sought out ' the lions of the 
 place,' but always preferred to see the state of the Blums 
 where misery and destitution had taken up their abode. 
 Though pained at what I witnessed, I alweiys felt pleased 
 that I had isought out the wretched and miserable, especially 
 the great suflFerers through drink, and had secured the oppor- 
 tunity of giving them good advice and encouragement amid 
 their poverty. And the longer I live the more am t con- 
 vinced that in this, both Temperance people arid reli<riou8 
 people are coming far short of their duty. Ours is a mrghty 
 enterprise, but Ian iiphill work; and yet it is the most 
 important step in social Reform that good men have at- 
 tempted in our day. It lies at the basis of success in all 
 other a' tempts to benefit our fellow-creatures." 
 
 In these most wise, and important words, Mr. Livesey 
 says that, in urging those he addressed to give themselves 
 to the work of doing good, he recommended nothing which 
 he had not practised himself. The proofs that this "boast- 
 ing IS found a truth" are to be met with on every side. 
 
 Let me briefly name them: . 
 
 _ First, He sought the material good of those aroiind him. 
 He fed the hungry/clothed the naked, improved their dweU- 
 
 ■ ,,*■ 
 
H 
 
 m^ FAITHFUL SERVANT. 191 
 
 inga, and sought in every way to promote their health and 
 happiness. Finding in his visiting, that the sleeping arrange- 
 ments of many of the poor were most miserable, he set to 
 work to remedy them. He persuaded the wives to empty 
 the old bedticks, and wash them, and he provided a supply 
 of chaff to HU them ; where the ticks wei« utterly rotten, he 
 assisted them to get more, and gave himself no rest till they 
 could thus sleep in comfort. On one occasion he m^t with 
 a poor sufferer lying on damp straw, covered with ulcers 
 and bfed-sores; he at once went home, took his own feather* 
 bed, and, calling a cab, carried it, with the necessary clothes 
 to cover him, to the poor friendless sufferer. His work in. 
 this direction grew upon him to such an extent, that, much 
 against his will, he had to appeal to others to help him. In 
 response to that appeal, a society was formed, with the 
 Vicar as president, called "The Bedding Charity;" and' he 
 was thus enabled to provide thousands of clean beds for the 
 needy and suffering poor. In 1862, in consequence of the 
 American War, the cotton famine began, which, from its 
 being entirely dependent on the cotton trade, was felt most 
 severely in Preston, and continued for nearly four years. 
 Mr. Livesey was one of the first to realize the nature and 
 extent of the calamity. He used his influence to summon 
 a town's meeting, presided over by the Mayor, to devise 
 means for helping th)e thousands of operatives that were out 
 of work. He says that when they met — 
 
 "The general impression was, that we were too hasty, 
 and that it was premature to commence giving relief, though 
 the result proved that we did not move a day too soon. 
 We had prepared resolutions, and got the, consent of 
 parties to move and Second them. The Rev. J. Owen Parr, 
 the Vicar, with a short speech, moved the first resolution 
 recommending a puli^lic subscription, which was seconded 
 by Mr. Bairstow, upon which Mr. T. B. Addison rose, and 
 made an elaborate speech against the resolution, urging that 
 
 -■• : /■ 
 
 

 ^-^-^-J-UUUUJ 
 
 ■ -■■ ' , ' 1 '■•. ' 1- 
 
 
 ■ ■•^*- ■• 
 
 ' ■• V 
 
 «•■■.» 
 
 
 ► '19a 
 
 r/Ti? FAITHFUL SEH VANT, 
 
 foliof sliould be given only through the Roiinl ofGuftrdians! 
 He aeonj^ed to have made a great injpression iiijon the 
 meeting; a pause ensued ; no one rose to reply, although 
 the meeting culled by circular was attended both by 
 ministers and private gentlemen. With me it wfts a 
 
 moment of intense anxiety; 1 hatl laboured hard to bring 
 this meeting about, and I feared that the ingenious appeal 
 of the learned Recorder bad frustrated all my hopes. Just 
 as thfe motion was going to be put to the vote, I felt im- 
 pelled to speak (although accdrding to arrangement I was to 
 speak to a later motion); and once on my legs, I felt no 
 dirticulty.in replying to Mr. Addison;' ■Warming up as I 
 proceeded, I carried the meeting >vith me. Several others 
 then followed, and the resolution >yas carried with only two 
 dissentients, Mr. Addison and another. If ever I felt that 
 I had rendered a service to humanity, it was by coming 
 forward at this critical moment. . A committee was ap- 
 pointed, the Vicar heing chairman, and I vice-chairnran, and 
 afterwards all went on successfully." .1 
 
 Into this work Mr. Livesey .threw himself vVith all, his 
 heart; and being one of his associates in the holy toil, I 
 ■had a good opportunity of witnessing liis zeal, and tact, and 
 generosity, and I could keep you by the hour, recounting 
 instancfs of Christian benevolence on tlie one hand, and of 
 
 "" Christian heroism on the other. Suffice it, however, to 
 ea/ that £131,000 was distributed, and that 5,141,418 
 tickets were given out, and that of this gigantic work Mr.. 
 Livesey was the mainspring and guide. 
 
 His kindness was also shown in the efforts h0 'mode tQ 
 promote the happiness of the poor and- helpless, i Amongst 
 other things, he devised a plan for bringing a little sun- 
 shine into their lives by arranging for cheap trips to the 
 seaside. He says :—^ ° j 
 
 "All classes, excepting the very poorest, Gould enjoy 
 themselves every summer by going with the cheiap railway 
 
 \.--.- 
 
./' - 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT, 
 
 '93 
 
 trips. This led me to conceii/e the idea of arninginrj one for 
 this clnss, which wns eminently successfnl. Every summer, 
 the poorest in the town, 'the halt, the Itmio, and the blind,' 
 the scftvongers, the sweeps, and workhouse, people, have been 
 treated to a railway trip to Blackpool, Southport, Fleetwood, 
 oi some other sea-bathing place. This annuid treat com- 
 menced in 1845 ; it was entirely niy own conception, and 
 has been continued ever since, generally in the month of 
 August. It has been called the 'Poor People's Trip,' the 
 ' Old Women's Trip.' and the ' Butter-niilk Trip ;' the latter 
 because, for a number of years, wo took a truck-load oC 
 butter-milk with u^ for the use of our guests. The trip, 
 numbered at first 2000 to 2500, but in time it increased] 
 to 4000. It used to be an interesting sight to me to see- 
 the trains start one after another, every carriage erauiiriedt 
 with the poor people as 'happy as princes.' It was the only 
 'out* many of them got during the whole year, and they 
 would talk of it many a long day. Long before the time 
 arrives, the old women will call to ask when the trip, 
 will come off, and describe thdr ailments, telling marvellous 
 tales how much they were bene Hted the year before. I: 
 often think how much friendship and goodwill might be 
 diflused among the poor, if the rich would but only mix 
 more with them, and contrive for" their enjoyments. They 
 little think of the store of gratitude that is lodged in 
 breasts covered with rags^ for any one who becomes their 
 benefactor." 
 
 Nothing aflfecting the welfare of the poor seemed to escape 
 Mr. Li vesey's notice. One case out of many I may name. 
 He found that coal was mostly sold to the poor in bags, 
 containing professecfly half a hundredvreight, or a hundred- 
 weight On weighing these bags he found that they jvere 
 considerably below their nominal weight, and he at once 
 arranged to divide the town iiito districts, and fixing on 
 points contiguous to the residences of the poor, he sent cart| 
 
 
 , '"Wt:, '■ 
 
»94 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 londs of coal, witli scales for weighing it, and sold it at a 
 little more thati cost price, thus giving the people the full 
 advantage, and driving their robbers fi-oni the field. 
 
 Second, He sought the social good of his townsmen. Using 
 his influence as** a member of the Corporation and a Guardian 
 of the Poor, he devoted himself to the removal of unhealthy 
 residences ; the straightening of streets ; the promoting of 
 open splices, playgrounds, and parks ; the providing of seats 
 for the Meak and the weary ; the opening of drinking 
 fountains for nien and beasts — and thus doing all he COuld 
 to promote the health and beauty of the town of which he 
 was a citizen. 
 
 He took a prominent part in the political movements of 
 liis day. He was a strenuous and determined enemy to the 
 roor Law, and conducted a discussion of three nights' dura- 
 tion in the Preston Theatre with the chosen champion of 
 that ineasuiie, Mr. James Aoland. Though the law was 
 passed, his opposition to it remained, and he succeeded for 
 twenty years in preventing the erection of what he called " a 
 bastile " in Preston. Of the Corn Laws he was a fierce 
 opponent, taking an active part, in conjunction with John 
 Bright, and "Richard Cobden, in addressing meetings held in 
 various parts of the country. He also started an illustrated 
 weekly magazine, called The Struggle, to expose the evils of 
 those laws. It had a large circulation, and he continued its 
 publication till the'lawS were abolished. Indeed, for him 
 to know of an evil was to ensure his antagonism to it, and 
 of a benefit that could be conferred,. was to ensure his sup- 
 port. He says, "I never could sit down and be quiet 
 when I saw work wanted to be done, and I was able to 
 render assistance." ['My aim was always to devise some- 
 thing that would ini prove the condition of the working 
 people." • 
 
 Third, He sought lilso i\\e intelkdual goodi of the people. 
 Having educated himiself— and his education was carried on 
 
 
>•(".- 
 
 ■w^ *)• 
 
 • ■,-.■, J.,. 
 
 r//£ FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 "95 
 
 in the face of the greatest difnculties — he set to work to 
 educate those around him. As there was no provision for 
 the Sunday training of adults, he opened his own cottage for 
 that purpose, he taking the males, and his wife the females; 
 and on tlie house proving too small to contain the scholars, 
 he took a Urge room and met them there. Feeling from 
 experience iflie diffidhlty there was in a working man getting 
 a look at a newspoper, every paper costing suvenpenee, he, 
 on his own responsibility, opened his room for " a general 
 jeading-room." The Success of this was so great, that he 
 opened other six reading-rooms in various parts of the town. 
 Early in" life ho began to employ the printing press. He 
 soys, "Long before I attained my majority, I wrote many 
 letters to the newspapers, generally condemnatory of some 
 public vice." He then issued placards bearing on the same 
 subjects. From placards he went to pamphlets, and from 
 pamphlets to magazines. In January 1831 he, commenced 
 TA« Moral Jteformer, a magazine "bearing c|iiefly on moral 
 questions, domestic management, and practical.jeligion." It 
 contained articles so forcibly written, and of stich high-toned 
 morality, that they would have done honour to Cobbett or 
 Franklin, and most of them were written by himself. In 
 January 1834 he issued *he first number of Tlw Temperance 
 Advocate. It was the first teetotal paper ever issued^ and it 
 is to-diiy the organ of the British Temperance League. Mr. 
 Livesey may well say : — 
 
 " When I state that these periodicals, extending over the 
 years 1832 to 1847, were got out amidst the toils of 
 business, that most of the articles were written by myself, 
 and that my general health at that tirat was not good, my 
 friends may well join me in surprise as to how I was able 
 to accomplish so much. But t^ fact is, whatever I engaged 
 in, I pursued with as much enl^^y'iis if the success depended 
 upon my exertions alone." 
 
 In 1844 he published the first number of the Preston 
 
'W 
 
 . if 
 
 
 196 
 
 \ 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 OKanlmn,n newspnpr tlmt still oxistfl.nnd occupies a fore- 
 inoMt [»l«d4»^ftmoii^'Ht the provinrial \m\wrH of tlio country. 
 
 Ill udditihn to tlieso iitulertakiiigs, h« issued u nunibor of 
 I»ublicati(>ii8 ()K various subjects ; and looking at the nconl 
 us giv««n in his Autobiography, I nni amazed at the work ho 
 ftrcoinplished ; theNmoro so when I reni(!inl)er that all Ihis 
 was don^ amidst thdNcnres of a largo family, and with the 
 anxiety (if creating anX developing the business on which 
 they weiB dependent, wliidi for many years rested entirely 
 upon hill isfrHf) \ 
 
 Fourti, He lalwured for the mora/ improvement of his 
 race. Having Iwen brought iiKearl^ life to the feet of 
 t, "resus, hd sot himself to work to eXtind His kingdom. He 
 nt once (beoome a Sunduy-sch'K)! tcachei^ilion a prayer- 
 leader, ajid then a successful lay preaWier. His one desire 
 was to dovttte those around him. KaiHy in his career, his 
 attention was directed to the subject of hi temperance, and, 
 with hij( customary zeal, lie set himself to^rk, as I have 
 remark^, to- discover and apply a remedyXone of the 
 first pamphlets he published wos on that subject. For a 
 long time no light appeared, but his hatred to\the drink 
 .increased till, in 18{U, he determined to abandoS its use 
 altogether. His own account of the matter is so clelv that 
 I give it in his own words : — 
 
 *' It is now fifty years since I took my last glass. \It 
 was early in 1831. I often say it was the best I eW 
 drank — the best hecmae the last ; and if I remain in my^ 
 senses I shall never tak^ another. I did not then under- 
 stand the properties of alcoholic liquors, though I ought to 
 have done, being 37 years of age. I have often said 'there 
 is outside drunkenness and vmde drunkenness.' I don't 
 think any one noticed the effect which the liquor produced, 
 but it led me to reflect, having six children, five of them 
 boys, about whose future welfare I was vei\ anxious, 
 whether I ought not to abstain altogether. I resol ved there 
 
THE JFAlTHifVL SEXVAhTT. 
 
 197 
 
 and then that I would never taato u^nin, and thin roKolution 
 I have kt>pt rtili)(iourdy to the preHent jnoniunt. It htiM been 
 no sulf-deniul, hut a ^ruiit tulf-enjoymeiU, for thoii^^h I have 
 spent much time und no. little money in promotinjf the 
 cRUHe of Temporunco. I have been amply rewarded, tlrMt in 
 my own perHonul itnjoyments. and next in the Hobriety and 
 Huccesses of my family. And I have aUo this pleasant 
 asaurance, that by my cxertiouH thousandH of familieH, lier^ 
 and elsewhere, havo l)een made happy. I don't wish to 
 boast, but m^y intenHu anxiety to rouse the feelingn of nr^ 
 fellow-townsmen and others against this cursed drinking 
 system has induced me to refer to my own case. 
 
 " The statement as to my having been fifty years a 
 teetotaller being a niatter of moniory, I was glad to find the 
 following in the July numl>er of my Mural Reformer,* 
 published in 1831; 'So shocked have I been with -the 
 ofl'ticts of intemperance, and so convinced of the evil tendency 
 of moderate drinking, that since the commencement oflB^ 31 
 I have never tasted ale, wine, or ordent spirits. I know 
 others who are pursuing the same resolution, and whose 
 only regret is that they did not adopt this course twenty 
 years since.' And in th»i Preface to the same volume, I 
 remark: 'lam often a^ked how I find timo for all my 
 work; and my answer is, the time which others spend at 
 the pot-house, or in visiting and attending parties, I spend 
 in active pursuits; and never taking any liquor at home or 
 elsewhere, my head is seldom out of order; I lose no time 
 in tlie evenings in extinguishing my reason, or in the 
 ii^orniugs mi trying to regain it.' 
 
 ' "The former paragraphs state the time I commenced my 
 personal abstinence , the next will explain its official com- 
 mencement, and how it was brought about in Preston. It 
 is. f rom Dearden's For/y years .4^0. 
 
 " ' In the year 1826, the philanthropists of America began 
 to organize their forces to battle against the then main 
 
 .**■- 
 
 /. 
 
•{ 
 
 
 ... .;^ 
 
 
 
 198 
 
 T^£ FAITHFUL S&HVANT. 
 
 w '■ 
 
 'k 
 
 
 / . 1 
 
 --/ 
 
 i'. i 
 
 cTiJTJio of thoir country— tfio drlnkliijj of •• anient %\m 
 Th<Hi6 efTortfl w«ro oxtcnrl«<l, and in 1829 the nifvilivii 
 coniuiencwfi in some parts of the Unitod Kin>,'doMk 
 that yoar up U) 1H:U Hooititinn plcdj^iuK tlilir JByn^rll to* 
 aUtinonai from HpiritiiouH litpiorH iM'^au to irfm^^in f»ul 
 country, until they readiod our town, wtiliih noon h«'<anio 
 the HiiiTili'LACi or Tkktotausm I Thfct thi-re have l)«un 
 teototaUers in every age of the world no one doubta ; hero 
 and there teetotnliflm had h«««n put forth by iniliyiduala, but 
 it WttH at Trenton it first tm)k " a form and Bhaiw ; " at 
 Preston it wa« that the first organization of forces was made 
 fi>r the disaeittuiation of the true Temperance principle of 
 Pehhonal ^j^PmNRNCR amongst our Ifown's jwjople ; it waa. 
 from Pr^n ttyit the fir«t Apostles jtff Teetotalism set out to 
 convert the pebple of this kingdp^n to the l)elief that all 
 inUmmting liquors, aa beverages, 0re p)i only unnecessm-y but 
 iiijnrmis. Dr. Lees, in his^oMt, the Text-Boilk of 
 Ttmperance, after noticing the movementa in other ploces, 
 rpeaking of Preston, says: " Hero'thtngs were ri|)ening to a 
 head ; here lived a well-known loc?il Franklin, Mr. Joseph 
 Livesey, who, having risen * Juk self-denial, culture, and 
 industry irqj^ the working-olfl|y^|g^it to cx^n(jU4 
 
 bmii 
 
 them the bluings of educa 
 
 sqcml 
 
 moral 
 
 reform. With a keen Saxon'fllifgrit I^ perceived the evil 
 in their midst, and with cautious, persevering common-sense 
 sought to UppJI^ the cure. No wonder the seeds of truth, 
 falling into such genial soil, ahould speedily germinate into 
 " wer fmd fruitful ness." 
 
 *"IW»'a8, however, soon discovered that the liberty to 
 take (iPlilid wine in moderation was a fatal source of back- 
 aliding. And hence ait)sea fiei-ce controversy, which lasted 
 for some time, as to, the pledge; many who bad become 
 thorough abstainers maintaining that all the liquors alike 
 containing alcohol 'shoijld be^excluded. To others at that 
 time, and especially ainong the middle classes, this was 
 
 '»•'■ — ^" — ,^- 
 
 ^ %^^^ 
 
(I 
 
 TUB FAITiimi SMMVAm', 
 
 # 
 
 «9f 
 
 rnnnidvruii a (Inngt^rotM' doctrine, and liktily to bruak Uf> i\m 
 9ocH)ty. Tho ToiniwrancM rvroriiicrii of the proHunt dny 
 have UQ idua of th« conflict tlint wiw knpt tip on titit 
 Biil>j«Gt To forbid win«i nnd iNtor waa tiucUntd un iiinom 
 tion u|H)n iKttli Kn^liHli and Atiuiricun IV^miwrniioo orthodoxy. 
 [, with niiuiy othunt, ftdt that thuro .wmm iio Hiifuty for our 
 niundHini without thin, |ind w^ wore dgk'iinintKl to bring 
 about thti cliiUigD. Ono Thurmbiy (Aui;»wit.2:J, 18112), John 
 King WHS puHiiing my shop in Church StiiBet, and I invited 
 him in, and afUtr diHCUHsing this (^uestiogi, upon which we 
 weru h<»th agreed, I nnked him if he wouhf sign a pliedgo of 
 /o/a/ ab^tinenco, to which he consonted. I then went to 
 
 the deMk «md wrote one out (tho precise wtwda of which I 
 
 don't remember). Ho came up to tho desk, and I said* 
 "Thee sign it first." lie did so, and I sigaed after hinu 
 This first step led to the next, for in the odiirse of a few 
 days, notice of a special meeting was given* |p lie held in 
 the Temperance Hull (the Cock-pit), the follo#ng Saturday 
 night, Ist SeptemlHjr, at which thin subject was warmly 
 disuuHsed. At the close of tho meeting, I remember well 
 a group of ns gatiieriug together, still furtler delmting 
 the matter, which ended in seven persons sigping a new 
 pledge, it being opposed by othera I . subjoin ^the pledge 
 * "and' the names: — / ^ 
 
 *" We afjfree to abstain from all liquors of an 'intoxicating 
 
 qnnlity, whether Ale, Porter, Wine, or Ardent Spirits, except 
 
 « m Medicines. 
 
 
 John Gratrix. 
 Ei)WD. Dickinson. 
 Jno. Broaduklt. 
 Jno. Smith. 
 
 i. • 
 
 JosKPH Lives nY. 
 David Andkkton. 
 Jijo, Kino.' " 
 
 Thus originated a movement which is changing the habits 
 of the, people of this country, and which De Quincey 
 
 'm- 
 
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A> 
 
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 3PO 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT, 
 
 d^cUrea was ^ to. be "the salvation of the A^ 
 I cannot leave this part of my aubjcct Without savin.. 
 
 Z. ""? r'l'^ ■'"'''''' ^'™^^'» '"■"•«'"'«'' «'- S 
 
 statement that teetotallers are " men of one idea." Ad 
 what .s true of hfn, i, as a rule true of his follower I So 
 not I, es. ate to «.y. that there is no movement for the 
 henefi of man. or for the filory of God, of which teetotallers 
 are not among the most generous and hearty supportrS 
 in support of which they are not in the fo4o^" ^ :; 
 
 tim"the^^rf1f'n ^"**-^"' ''"""'■' '■'*^'* After a long 
 tune the lord of th.s servant returns, and he is summoned 
 
 to give m h,s account He does: so with joy. " LoTfhou 
 
 Sth:™-" ';^'^-'«''°'ll '-e ii'ued twotll': 
 oesiae them. Then comes the reward, on which I must 
 ..ot dwell but in which I trust we shall aH shat S 
 he has h,s master's app„>val. "Well done, good and 
 f-uthnl servant. Secondly, he is raised l,\\y^, 
 posmon. "Thou hast been faitl.ful over a fewthin's I wd 
 »^uke thee ruler over many things." Goodness aul' aU 
 uluese brmg moral power, and that power willsoone or 
 later be recognised. It was so with Mr. 1^ h! 
 steadily grew, i„ the estimation of those afouidh^' | 
 to^^nts mdre than doubled. He obtained intellectua powj 
 social power, material power, and n.en lookL to him to 
 guidance, and applied .to him for help. This was sZiaUv 
 seen when, in Juyisee, the Preston BllsuSded 
 S"^ ^T^ terrible morning came. thoSfo 
 
 sorrow. The^,reotors were paralyzed ; hope fled i Mr 
 Livesey heayiheVws, and at once wen toU.e tank and 
 met the dn^ctors; he asked, for a full statement of >h^ 
 accouht^/His p,.cticaljni„d at once gLl^tem and 
 he sawXhere was a possibility of the Lk be „, ^".1 
 
 *i^ 
 
% THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 201 
 
 fci''' 
 
 He knew his own power : he had become a ruler among men 
 He at once formed his pldihs, and laid them before th6 
 directors, and askeil them if they would stand by him if he 
 would take the helm ? They gladly agreed. He then went 
 out, and itddressed the despairing crowd that was around 
 the dpor^, telling them what he thought, and what he was 
 prepared to do; and asking them if they would trust him ? 
 Cil^fidence was at once restored. Men who had come to 
 the bank, with ruin staring them in the face, lost their fears, 
 and in the most joyous manner gave their allegiance to the 
 man on whose wisdom, and integrity, they knew they could 
 rely. Having secured the confidence of the Preston share- 
 holders, and depositors, he then went to the other Lancashire 
 towns that were specially interested. Everywhere, he was 
 welc<iuied, everywhei-e he met with the same success, and 
 the liatik is now onff of the most prosperous in the county. 
 Knowing, as we do, the calamitibs which followed the stop- 
 page of the Glasgow, Leeds, and other banks, we can easily 
 understand that Mr. Li vesey, referring to the position he 
 took in that terrible emergency, should say, "In looking back 
 upon this successful affair, my satisfaction seems only equal 
 to the gratitude of my townsmen." 
 
 And who that was ^privileged to see that wonderful 
 funeral, when thousands of people, magisti-ates, ministers of 
 all creeds, politician* of all opinions, the rich and poor, from ^ 
 all parts of the country, gathered in reverent sorrow around 
 his grave, could help feeling that a ruler, a prince, and a 
 great man had fallen? And who can doubt but that this 
 honour went beyond the grave ? and that, qualified by long 
 and faithful service here, he has been exalted to engaue in 
 higher forms of blessed service in heaven ? 
 
 Thiidly, his reward consisted in his being admitted to his 
 toaster's presence. "Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'* 
 That is an honour of which we know but little. It is 
 beyond ouf eomprthension. We cannot imagine what is 
 
»oa 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 .^^eant by the joy of the Lord. ; It is often spoken of It 
 - W^^ '"'r ""' *^^"^^ Christ when He undertook 
 
 - ^ ^w"? 'Ii!' T""- '' ^' * '^""^ P^^""^^^)' His own ; yet 
 into that joy the faithful servant is admitted! I say we 
 
 Mw httle of it; but we do know that it is pure,'anl 
 perfect, and permanent. v "u 
 
 admitted.^ He was naturally reticent about mtual 
 
 r^r^n/t' "^"TT,^""^ "P"" him as l%(i^ced. 
 As the end approached, he fell asleep; and Jfe^eath- 
 dew^gat ei.d upon his b«,w. all was'^.lmneS 1 ^ 
 men the end came, the eyes opened for a moment^ and 
 the^voice whispered "Glory, glory^^^ „j^^ ^^^ ^v 
 
 ot God, he fell asleep," September 2nd, 1884 
 
 I want to say a few words to the membeis of this 
 eongrej^ation. To each one I say, Remember that you are a 
 s^vani, ajid are « wicked, and idle." or "good, and^ithlul." 
 You must be one, and you can't be both. Have you bowed 
 at the foot of the Cross? Have you said- ^^"^"^^ 
 
 "^•^^ ™y"0"l. and body's powers, 
 ^J«^« ™yn>emory, mind, and wiU, 
 All my goods, and all my liours, 
 All I know, and alllleel, 
 . -^'1 I tliink, or speak, or do ; 
 
 Take my heart, but makis it new"? . \ 
 
 If not, why not ? and why not ngiw ? 
 
 Do you say "I am His?" Then I ask you what are 
 
 you domg with His talent? your money? your education^ 
 
 your social position ? your influence ? Remember, the 
 
 ^er IS coming, and the great account must be rendered. 
 
 Ea h of US slia^l be tliere. What a solemn moment it will 
 
 ^fLT" K '^'^>'' ^ "^^^' perception of what we 
 nught have been, and done. The questiop will not then 
 
 be as to our^creee/. but our co7«?«c^- not our ?H,5i<ion, but 
 i^Mxmrh "Lord, Thou gavest me." eta 
 
THE FAITHFUL SERVANT* 
 
 203 
 
 Have you only one talent? Use it well, remetnleiing 
 that the reward will be according to the work, not accord- 
 ing to the number, of the talents which were given. 
 
 Young men, look at Mr. Livesey's life, and let it arouse 
 nnd stimulate yon. Realize i^ie glorious possibilities of 
 your position. You cannot have greater disadvantages 
 than he had; but you "have far greatier advantages-^-national 
 advantages, social advantages, religious advantages— " upon 
 you the ends of the world have come." Kemember, that to 
 whom much is given, of them much will be required. 
 Come then to-night, and beholding' the Lamb of God that 
 taketh away the sins of the world, promise that " the rest 
 of your days, whether many or few, shall all be devoted to 
 Him," and may God help you ! 
 
 Fellow- abstainers, bear with me while I remind you that 
 our departed friend has left us an example We shall do 
 well to imitate. -• The three points I wish especially to name 
 are life tn<<7/tg'ence, his coTiscien/tMiswess, and \i\% gtinjcrosily. 
 
 First, his intelligence. I mean, as an abstainer. Many 
 join our ranks who never understand the questions involved. 
 Some are influenced by habit, somei by selfishness, some by 
 feeling; and the result is, they are at the mercy of .every 
 wind that blows. If interest, or feeling, or fashion says 
 "Abstain," they abstain* if they say "Drink," they drink. 
 Hence, they are never to be relied upon. If any of you 
 are in this position, set to work at once, and remedy it, so 
 that you may be prepared to take your right place in the 
 battle that is before us. Mr. Livesey's strength was in his 
 intelligence. Guided by a casual remark of Benjamin 
 Franklin as to the nature and propertfes of the drink, he 
 saw that it was an impostor, that it never could give 
 w^t it did not possess; and he gaye himself heart and 
 som to the work of showing this to others; and in times 
 of even severe sickness, no doctor, or number of doctors, 
 , could drive him from his convictioji. His lecture on the 
 
 .■y 
 
a64 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 
 I ! 
 
 delusion of drink has had the lai^est circlation of any 
 lecture ever printed. ' 
 
 _ A second point is his conscientiousness: Many of onr 
 
 , fnends become abstainers., and derive the benefits IZ. 
 
 abstinence brings, but we hear no n,ore of themjXy 
 
 neuher g,ve. nor woric, nor cheer those who are at worT 
 
 Th.s .8 a great injury to them, and k great loss to the 
 
 . Ten,perance movement. Is it nothing that millions of our 
 
 . felk.w-countrymen are perishing, and that we have a sure 
 
 ttanitv H ""^' ^"'■^'^ '""'™^'- I""™"™. Chris- 
 tianity and conscience, combine to arouse us from our 
 
 selfish lethargy, and lead us to be instant in sea^n a"d oS 
 
 of season, and at all costs to endeavour to save sime and 
 
 remembering that, "To him that knoweth to do ^ a^d 
 
 doeth u not, to him it is sin." Joseph Livesey pm h"s 
 
 conscience into the work-hence his purse, his^time and 
 
 h.s^,rength, were ever ready to spread the cLuse he Iv^d 
 
 ^ Jhe last point I wish to name is his generosity. I do 
 
 feenerous there, as was shown in many ways. I mean 
 
 oirharr'^- -';'""'• ^-p-- -uromT,:' 
 
 ^ n»S f ^! f " *'"S'"' °f ^"■'ng here. Seeing the 
 ^h of duty clearly themselves, they became impatient 
 with those wlio could not see as clearly, of move a^ fast 
 
 pract ces. Let us remember that others think, as well as 
 ourselves; »d that though we may ascend the paml cL? 
 .others will not render W us the homage which we d ma'd 
 ISf" ^ ever won by denuhciation, or converteT^ 
 •Wt^r words. The "truth in love" is ever the moX 
 .m-rcessful mode of propagating it ; and as others bore wil 
 us we must learn to bgar with othe.«. Mr. Livesey h^ 
 tins attribute in a re,&kable degree. Hence irwht 
 knew him respected him. Though foremost in politick ' 
 
 
TH]^ FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 205 
 
 contests, he had till his death the friendship and admira- 
 tion of his political opponenff ; while the closed shutters 
 and drawn blinds of the public- houses, as the funeral 
 procession passed through the streets of Preston, showed 
 that the firmest principles might exist in harmony with 
 the most generous spirit. God and truth are with lis, and 
 they that are in the right can afford to be generous. 
 
 And now my work is done, and we must separate, not 
 to meet again till the day is ended. Let us each endea- 
 vour so to live that the world may be the better for our 
 having been in it* and that at last the Lord may be able to 
 say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant j^ thou 
 hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee 
 ruler over many things: enter thou iflto the joy of thy 
 Lord." 
 
 . : \.. 
 
 J 
 
 
 ■jfev.--- 
 
 .*.« 
 
"^^K^-^f^-^ ' 
 
 -V 
 
 XIV. 
 
 -A aOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CffmST." 
 
 ^ — — — - 2 Tim. ii. part ver. 8. 
 
 rpHEBE are many military allusions.U^d figures, in the 
 -*- New Testament. The reason is Ury clear. It was 
 a military age. The sword was sup&e. Rome was 
 , mistress of the world. Her legions were to be found 
 everywhere. Hence these figures would bo understood by 
 all. It was especially natural that Paul should use mili- 
 tary phraseology. He was then at Rome under military 
 . care and would be constantly hearing of military matters. 
 He knew what was meant by being a soldier, and* hence in^^ 
 writmg to his. beloved son in the gospel," Timothy, he 
 sunnned^np the wish of his heart in urging him t/b^ a 
 good soldier of Jesus Christ. And it is because I regard 
 thetext as being the best description of Mr. MackAhat T 
 could find in the Bible, that I have selected it4r our 
 ii|editation. I dp „ot come to-night to indulge in anything 
 like fulsome adulation of our departed friend. It is not at 
 al i^my line. As a rule, I strongly olyect to what are 
 called funeral sermons. In the whole of my thirty years' 
 ministry, I believe I have never preached half-a-dozen of 
 such sermons. " But while there is a time to be st/en^, there 
 IS also a time-t» speak, and, in my judgment, if ever it was 
 right to preach a funeral sermon, it is right in the case of - 
 him whose loss we deplore. Not that even he iieeds it to 
 • A^Sermoa preached on the death |>f Mr. Jamea Jennyn Mack, of Bootle, • 
 
 XiverpooL 
 
 / 
 
Tf^" 
 
 A GOOD SOLDIMR OF JtSUS CHRIST. 207 
 
 JDiake you revere his memory. His noble life has enshrined 
 that, in the hearts of thousands. The sorrow that has gone 
 through the \fhole town, the wonderful funeral which so 
 hiauy of us witnessed, where every person in the vast crowd 
 was a mourner, the gap in our ranks, which must yawn and 
 sadden. us for many a day to come, is the best testimony to 
 his worth, 
 
 I liave not come then to praise him. He would be the 
 first to forbid that. But I have come to speak of what he 
 was, in the hope that many in this crowded audience may 
 be led to follow him, as he followed Christ. It is said that 
 ^oilce a young lad stood before a beautiful statue. He gazed 
 in wonder at the marvellous production of the sculptor's 
 hand, and then, lifting his eyes to heaven, slowly and 
 reverently said, " I, too, will be a sculptor." 
 
 I want to-night, by God'a^ help, so to put our sainted 
 friend before you, that some in this audience may be led to 
 feay, " I, too, will be a Christian.'* 
 
 ■f 
 
 I. — Ltt -m see what is implied in being a Soldier. 
 
 First, A soldier is a person who has enlisted in an army. 
 Ho is not born a soldier. He was not taken captive, and 
 compelkd 10 serve against his will. He had the power of 
 choice. He had looked at the reasons for, and against, enter- 
 ing thu army, and at last he enlisted, and so became a^ 
 eoldier. It was entirely his own doing, and in that sense 
 he ma*: be^ called a volunteer. 
 
 Secondly^^, ir<5 w the TRomuTY 0/ the king., He gives up- 
 his free t^genby. He gives up his very name. He is known 
 and called by the number he bears. He knows no will but 
 that of the sovereign. In all places^ and at all times, he 
 4)el0ng3 to the king/ ■ 
 
 Thirdly, He is PROVIDED fmr by the Jdng. He must 
 take off his ovm clothes, whether they are of best broad- 
 
io8 
 
 \- 
 
 A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESl/S CHRIST, 
 
 a?w€rt by tlie king. \ 
 
 Fourthly. iTe muatalvmya wear his regimentala. A soldier 
 can always b« recogijised as such. It is not so of any other 
 class in the commui ity. If a stranger were to como into 
 his crowd he could not allot us to our different occupa- 
 Uons, but the soldurl he would select at once. As soon as 
 he has enlisted, he ^^ears the ribbons in his hat. and when 
 he 18 sworn m. he pii^s on the military dress, and this he has 
 to wear as long as he is a soldier. 
 
 ^i^^^y,Heispjparedfoi'tnal,(mlcmflut. Soldim 
 are the result of i^a^. and if there were no war there would 
 be no^ sofdters. He ^n/isted U,Ju,ht For this purpose he is 
 ar...rf and ^mW^jand drilled: All this is the means to 
 
 tT/n ' !. fl'^'V' '*'" '"^^^'^ ^^^«^' ^•'^ I«"g "'arch, 
 the bloody field. He does not throw down his arms o,^ 
 
 complain when the trumpet sounds. He listens, to it. He 
 understands its language, and at once obeys 
 
 spoken of 
 experience 
 
 Jl.— What ij implied in being a soldier of ^ristf 
 
 «t is implied t4t Christ is a king-^that He L enemies 
 hat He has ah army— and that the person 
 belongs to Mis ar'my. 
 
 _ And it is 86. Every Christian knows by ..p«.,«„ee 
 that whateyer el^e he may not be. he i. a ^o/rf^, and that 
 It IS only by befeg.a ^-oorf soldier, that he can hobe to "ain 
 the crown. , T ** 
 
 .Let me then, for a ;moment. remind you, of dat is in- 
 volved m this, and in doing so I have to glanL at the 
 ground we have already passed, and I want to speik to you 
 who arcs the soldiers of Chri&t « j " 
 
 First, You have enlisted ; yon ivete not born a soldier- 
 you were a stranger, and a foreigner. But God remembered 
 yqu m your low estate, and invited you to come into His 
 
 *■+- 
 
 ■: 1. 
 
^'i^Xu m'm^"-'* 
 
 J-ito^ESHS^-^SSW 
 
 A GOOD SOLDIER OP JESUS CJIKISt. ■ aop 
 
 kingdom. For a long tinio you hesitatod. Like Felix, you 
 
 were nln.ost persuaded. Then, as in his case, other influ- 
 
 ences were exerted, and the struggle was prolonged ; at last 
 
 ' however, it ended, you cried— ' 
 
 • Nay, but I yield, I yield, 
 iv I c"i» lioKI out no iiioro ; 
 
 I 8ink, by dying lavB ooinitollod, 
 ; And own Thet) conqueror." 
 
 Christ at once received you; He enrolled you in His 
 nriny. and you went forth wearing the rihhons of joy and 
 gladness, pledged t6 fight against all His ene.nies to your 
 lives end. '' 
 
 Secondly, Ymi have become the property of your Kimj " His 
 ye are whom ye serv*." Unless we surrender ourselves- 
 eatirely to the Saviour, we may be Methoduts, but we are 
 nop Christians. He searcheth the heart, and trieth the 
 rems, and is never rfemrerf. 
 
 Here thousands falter. We foolishly, ay. wickedly, hope 
 tliat Christ will agree (o a compromise. We offer Him 
 everything except: wealth— business-^friends— reputation ' 
 Onr ^hope is vain. He says : " If any man come to Me" 
 and hate not his father, mother, wife, children, brethren and 
 sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple ■' 
 
 Ihe true soldier does not hesitate. He cries 
 
 • Take my soul, and body's powers, 
 Take mjf memery. mind, and will, 
 >11 my goods, and all my hours, * 
 
 AH I knowj and all! feel, . ' 
 
 All I think, and spenk, and do ; 
 Take my heart and make it new." 
 
 And heis accepted. Henceforth he feels that he is not his 
 
 !"?; ?f ^ •' ^"°''* ""'^^ ^^'^- TJ'«<^ ^»« liyes ; yet 
 not he, but Christ lives in him. V 
 
 ; At all tinjes, in all places, in^^llcUpany, he feels thaf 
 le represents his King, and that, in some measure, His 
 honour is entrusted t o his k r-epin g . ^ 
 
 f 
 
« ."if 
 
 
 J:^- 
 
 flO 
 
 A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 Thirdly. You an'vxxmxmx^ for hj the King. The Kinir 
 takes the ent.re charRe of yon. ^ Whatever you have of your 
 own .8 to be a.d ushle : old tilings are to paBH away 'umI 
 n 1 h.ng» are to become new. Yon ar6 X6 woar the Kinu'H 
 Hothes. ejit the King's food, nsu the K\^^^r^, and receive 
 the King's pay. ^ " ^ 
 
 Yes. so it is ; our filthy garments ar^fc^e taken off- we^ 
 
 tl.e Royal Wardrobe to be clothed. We are to go to the 
 Koya Annoury for our equipment. We ore to go to the 
 oyal Bun<,net.ng House td be fed. We are to go to the 
 Royn Treasury to be paid: . J.et us never for^^t thi^: 
 Chnsts soldiers have no ree^.,fot care about the /.J.. 
 Jheyonng hons n.ay lack a.i^aufrer hunger, but yoi^r bread 
 shall be given yon, and your water shall be sure: lie will 
 pay you your wages. , * 
 
 Fourthly, row must always wear your reg'imnitah. You 
 cannot be a saint to-day, and a sinner to^monmv You 
 c;.nnot be a saint on Sundays, and a sinner in the week. 
 Yon cannot be a saint at eburch, and a sinner in the shop 
 Aon cannot be a saint in Liverpool, and a sinner in 
 London. You cannot serve God and Mammon. Yon arc 
 a soldier everyiohere, or nowhere, and woe to you if you 
 dishonour your King. ^ ^ 
 
 _ Fifthly. Yoic must he jyreparrd for trial and coriftict. Some 
 of Gods people seem to forget this. Tliey think they are 
 soldiers on>ay.^«y5. and fitrcviews; but assoon as the fiery 
 darts beg^^n to fall around them, and the road gets rough 
 and nifci. tl^ fancy they are deserters. A strahge 
 Hiistake^tbH You are never so much a soldier as when 
 you are marcthng. or fighting. I fear the fault of this 
 ruistake lies very much with some of us. who may bo called 
 
 jecruitmg sergeants. In persuading men to enlist, we 
 speak much more of the ribbons, the bounty money, ^ the 
 
 '^^r^ than we do of the battlefield, id th^ !m.i^ 
 
 :-\ ,.: 
 
'*!» 
 
 #■ 
 
 
 / 
 
 A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST. an 
 
 IleMce, perhaps, the error. Hut if wt jire to hluine in this 
 rcH|M'ct, our great Kiii« is not. The whole of Ilig teiiehiiiK' 
 is in the other direction. Hu tells iia that we cannot follow 
 I^Vmi without sacrifices. That we muHt be willing to lose, 
 everything, even life itHelf. That we must live a life of 
 Bt^lf-deiiiul, and be prepared for hiirdness, and persecution, 
 <»nd death. That we sJiulI have to strive, and wrestle, and 
 ,%lit, and that the enemies who are opposed to us, ate m 
 /powerful, that at las't we shall (mly scarcely bo saved. Wh' 
 whatever mistakes we as ministers may make, He ne^r 
 deceives us. He Ants all the dirticidties fairly before us, 
 and we ar« exhorted to count the cost, so that wo nuiy not 
 be covered with shaLe at last. 
 
 Here, then, is a sdldier of Christ. He is a man devoted 
 to His service, whose jDusiuess is tb do His will, and live for 
 His glory. • ^^ ^ 
 
 III. — What is implied in being a good aoMier of ChriU t 
 
 I neett not tell you that there are soldiers and soldiers. 
 That there are some who are idle, and dissipated: a dis- 
 grace to the profession to which they belong. That there 
 are others ^who only swell the numbers, and fill up the 
 . ranks, who' look very well at reviews, but who don't count 
 for much in the battlefield. And that there are others who 
 am so true, aud faithful, that they cover the array to which 
 they belong with glory ; whose very names have but to bo 
 uttered to stir the hearts of th^soldiers, like the sound of a 
 trumpet These are the <7(jo*i soldiers, 
 
 Wliat are the attributes of a good soldier? Let i .e 
 name a few of the most prominent. 
 
 First, A good soldier is thoroughly %a/. He is not a 
 mercenary, fighting for pay. He is proud of liis uniform, 
 he is proud of his name, and he is proud of his king. Soy 
 it is with th e good soldier of Christ. lie c r iea, " Whoi 
 
 • 5- 
 
( ].■ 
 
 :. ^ 
 
 
 III J 
 
 fit 
 
 A GOOD SO/.niF.R OF JESUS CHSIST. 
 
 -K. 
 
 h.»e I in heave,, |,„t Th,.1 »,„| thoro i. no,,.. „,„„ ,„„|, 
 I .10. ,^ l».„.l.., Tl ,;• It f. hi, hi«ho.t j.>y to «v " 
 
 l.i.^T"'",^' \ !*""' ""'''"'■■ '" '""•'■"'^ H" ""t only lov.« 
 Ji» king, lM,t hi, c,„.„Yy. II„ i. ,„,„a „f hi, „,„iC; 
 
 -..M..T ,- l.„ „„„„,,,! ll„ M„„«, ,„ the „„„y. Tm 
 
 wl,„t MnoiKth ,„,l„„t,Hn, Kiv„8 t., ll,„ ,„|.|i.,r. „„„ „ 
 
 H<> it is win, the Ch,iHtiu„ ,.,l,|ii,r. Ho lovos hia AW 
 «n.l ho love, hi, W.™. „„ erie,, .• ,.„y f, .Vt.";^: 
 
 tJ:^^^ """" "-"- "'- '- 'H= rwiu 
 
 Thii^lly, Tho KOO.I eohlier i, olcdirnt. Thi, i, inrti^ 
 
 «l tl Ko„,an sol,l,er,, a. ft i, of o.,r .„v„. The eenturion 
 ■n he Go,poU said, ■■ I .ay ^ „„„, ori, „„.| h ^I," t" 
 ■ "; her. C„„,e, an.l ho co,„eth ■;• and we have „,„.! |'„w when 
 «t l'„n,f,„„ the hoiling lav» .wept throagl, the doomli ly 
 
 ».U of the ,„„„arch is the law of the Rood soldier's life 
 
 H,> AtV «-o never cnsnltcl. II„ ,„„y b^ at ho„,e M 
 
 ■e m.dst of h„ fa,nily_a telegran, co.nis; by the nei" 
 
 trajn he leaves to join the anny, pe,haps to \,d, the Is 
 
 and pensh in a distant Itnd. ' 
 
 You remember the loss of thS ' BirUnhtad off the coa,t 
 
 "[i^n,^^ How, when'the vessel was sinking, the sIS 
 
 obeyed the word^of their co,nma„der. and fe™ d 172 
 
 watched the wo,nen, and children, as they were ca^ed to 
 
 of joy that the rest were saved, they themselves finding in 
 the ocean, .eoffin, and a grave. An d you rememb o , anX 
 

 A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST, aij 
 
 occuaioii, wh«n n ■iiiiilur trngiuly wuh on tim |Mniit uf 
 occurring, lu»w HuvohHik, wh<» wuh in coninmnd, nniir»liulli»il 
 liiM mun .un duck, and iwid, " Mun, obt*/ urdcrH, iiiid iliink 
 of nothing eltv." 
 
 So it inuHt Ik! with n». It in on« of tlio ol^(ects of the 
 discipline wo have to inidure. (Jhiist Miiyn, " If a nmn lovti 
 Mu. hu will keep My wuidtt." It in uuough tlmt Jtituft M»iU 
 iU Tho good Moldiur oalts no que«tion«-— 
 
 r ■■ 
 
 \ 
 
 \: 
 
 ♦• lliit Hot to niakif nt|1f]r, 
 IIIm not to ffftofi why, 
 IliH but to do or dW." 
 
 -v* 
 
 i 
 
 Fourthly, The ^chmI soldiwr fs eunuH(/ ITe is not a rncro 
 cauip-foUowor. llm heart is in M» work. Ho is jfiih.uH 
 fur the honour of hin king, iHid feclH the importance of the 
 conflict in which ho ia engaged. He therefore puta forth 
 his every. i)ower, and shrinks from no toil, or sacrifice, to 
 ensure success. So it must be with us. If we are not in 
 earnest, we nuty as well give up. The enemies are so many, 
 and the difliculties so great, that liono hut the earnest can 
 liope to succeed. It is not one battle, and then rest. ^.Tho 
 attack will be renewed again and again. It is a war with 
 self, as well as with the world, ani the devil. Tenipt-r,* 
 pride, ambition, cowardice, indolenc% covetousness, and a 
 host of natuml evils have to be overcome. This is no easy 
 work. It wffll need much prnyer, and great watchfulness. 
 HAnce, withobt earnestness, success is impossible. 
 
 Fifthly, The good sohlicr is brave. He is enlisted, not for 
 pay, or to be illpiired, or ai)plauded. but to do his duty. 
 Thiit duty muH^^^e done at all times, and under all circum- 
 stantes. So it ia'^wth the Christian soldier., He is in an 
 enenjy's country; and the foes are n)any, subtle, fierce, and 
 deterniined. ThejTgive no quarter. Thgy never agree to' 
 an ai'Ulistice. If he does not con(iuer them, they will con- ' 
 quer hiju. ' ^t is victory or death. Tlife prize is not for 
 luiii who evades the conflict, but for him that overcomes. 
 
 .f 
 
 
 -■>>■ 
 

 (' 
 
 -^ ■ ' ( 
 
 1 1 
 
 '1' 
 
 '■»■ 
 
 ■• 'V 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 . • _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 k 
 
 V 
 
 « 
 
 < 
 
 ^'' 
 
 * 
 
»i4 A GOOD SOLD/EH OF JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 
 :| 
 
 ■■- --'4 
 
 and without courage this is impossible. It is needed as 
 much now as it was eighteen hundred years ago, as much here 
 as at Jerusalem or Rome. Our foes may be less material, 
 but they are more dangerous. They often wear the uniform 
 of friends, and kiss ere they betray. We need courage, espe- 
 cially- in the present day, to enable us to be real. There is 
 a constant temptation to appear to be what we are not. 
 To appear to he Ticher, wiser, better than we are. This is 
 a temptation into whieli, if we arfe not brave, we shall be 
 sure to fall. We see our neighboifr living in a certain 
 style, and we are at once tempted to do the same. The 
 result of yielding will be weakness, and sin. Our resources 
 will all be needed to meet our foolish extravagance, and we 
 shall have nothing left for the sejvice of God or the godd 
 of man. How well would it be if we were all to remember 
 the notable saying of the late Mr. Brotherton; "A man's 
 Wealth depends not on the abundance of his possessions, 
 but on the fewness of his wants " ! 
 
 Courage is also, required to do our duty to the poor, and 
 the oppressed. To stand by them when every one else 
 forsakes them, and to help them yrhen you are despised 
 and persecuted for doing it. To say, as the celebrated 
 Thomas Garrett, of America, said when he was tried and 
 heavily fined for concealing fugitive slaves, and his judge 
 said he hoped.it would be a warning to him to have nothing 
 to do with runaway slaves for the future : " Friend, if thoa 
 knowest of any poor slavewho is coming this way, and needs 
 a friend, thou canst teH him I shall be ready to help him." 
 
 Courage is also required to enable us to be faithful, to 
 the rich, not to tolerate, much less to pander, to their vic«;s. 
 It is Deeded to enable us to starid against customs, and. 
 .fashions, that oui* judgment condemns. To go agaihst the 
 stream, to deny oneself, to take up the cross. There is, I 
 fear, a growing disposition amongst us to ignore all this. 
 To refine away the strict demands of Christianity. To 
 
A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST, 215 
 
 make inclination, and not duty, the rule of our lives. 
 i'ersoniiV ease, and personal comfort, seem to be with many 
 the great end of life. We are in dan}];er of losing the 
 niiirtyrispirit, and Christian heroism, which once em)ol>led 
 the followers of Christ. To strengthen our courngv, and 
 liable us to endure hardness, we niust look »t the nivisildu ; 
 we sliall then, like the prophet's servant, see ourselves t» 
 be surrounded by chariots and horses of fire ; we shall 
 cntch the loving smile of our great Commander, and we . 
 sliall stand, and having done all, shall sUind. 
 
 Sixtbly, The good soldier \q patient. The soldier is not 
 enlisted for a day, but for life. He is often put where 
 tiiere is notliing to excite, or gmtify ambition. There will 
 be tha long wearisome march, or the still more wearisome 
 halt. While his comrades are assaulting cities, and winning 
 victories, he has to stand and watch, or lie and suffer. Tlie 
 good soldier willdo tins. It is said that the French could 
 charge with almost irresistible fury, but that they could . 
 not, like the British, forni the squares, and, as the artijl^y 
 opened pathways through, close up over their dead, a/if at» 
 a review. It requires good soldiers to do' this. So it is 
 with suffering. They say that in the military hospitals a 
 groan is rarely to be heard. So it must be with the good' 
 soldier of Christ. Ours is a long and wearying struggle. It 
 assumes a thousand different forms, ayd we " have need of 
 patience;" we must be ready to attack the foe, but we 
 inust also be prepared to stand, to suffer, and to die. We. 
 hfive an infallible Commander, He never makes a mistake. 
 He ever leads His followers "itt^a right way." ^^^ 
 
 " He nothing does, or suffers td be <lone, 
 .; But we sliould do ourselves, «ould we 
 
 But see the end of all events, as well as He." 
 
 He never loses a battle. Every day brings us nearer the 
 end, and all will be well at last. 
 
 Seventhly, The good soldier is self-denying * Every act ih 
 
 - — / 
 
 v\ 
 
•K 
 
 2l6 
 
 GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 a soldier s life requires this. So it i? with us. The self- 
 jndulgeiit can never be good Christians. Listen to the 
 Comnmnder : « If any man will come after Me, let him deny 
 iMniself. and take up his cross and foUow Me. Whosoever 
 doth not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My 
 d.sciple. Self-denial is the opposite of self-gratification, 
 and cross-bearing is the opposite of self-indulgence. 
 
 Eighthly, The good soldier is modest. His motto i.s, deeds 
 not worils. The braggart is never brave. The deepest 
 river IS the most silent. It is said that the word " .dory " 
 ^ not found in the despatches of the Duke of Wellhi^ton 
 He merely states what the army had donei So with the 
 Christian, boasting is excluded. His constant language is. 
 . By the gmte of God I am what I am." 
 
 Let me now briefly show that all these characteristics 
 were to be found in our departed friend. Mr. Mack 
 .^ Do we speak oi Loyalty? Mr. Mack was eminently 
 devout. Those of us who have heard him engage in prayer" 
 wilLnot soon forget the depth of reverential love which was 
 ^manifested. Everything connected with God was re«^arded 
 as sacred, and treated accordingly. ° 
 
 Do we speak of Patnotism r He loved the Church He 
 lived for It, and I may almost say he died for it too. He 
 counted no sacrifice, or work, too great, that was needed for 
 the welfare of God's cause. . 
 
 To>^a Methodist was enough to ensure his sympathy 
 and friendship. As to the ministers of the Church thev 
 J.'ere welcomed to his home, and they lived in his heart 
 If ever a inan deserved the name of the preacher's friend 
 It was Mr. Mack. He was always studying their comfort, and 
 seeking ; to promote their happiness. Every preacher that 
 
 r. W" "^'^ ^"^^^ ^^^* ^^ ^''^' l««t^ personal friend 
 
 ^^ Do WS speak of Obedience? .Duty was the law of Mr 
 Macks life He was cautious in adopting anything ;new. - 
 but show him that a thing was right; and you at once ' 
 

 A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST. aij 
 
 secured his support. His own feelings never seemed to be 
 taken into account.- "It is right," was ahe answer to all 
 opposing suggestions. 
 
 Do we speak of Barnestnessl He was always in earnest. 
 He seemed, as much as any man I have ever known, to be 
 idways about his " Father's business." He never waited to % 
 be urged to any work, but was always in the van, leading 
 on his comrades. His persistence was almost irresistible. 
 Whatever he undertook to do was sure to-be done. The 
 energy which enablied him to cany on so successfully the 
 large business of which he was the head, was brought into 
 the Church, and every department of the work of the 
 Church felt the benefit of his association. He was always 
 devising plans for aggression, and into those plans, when 
 adopted, He threw, not only his wealth, but his personal 
 labour, in a way that I have never seen equaHed. 
 
 Do we speak of Coimige? 'Ue never flinched from the 
 post of duty. Nothing impressed me move with this 
 feature of his character than the comparative wilUngness 
 with which he consented to preside over public meetings. 
 Asa sailor he was a man of action rather than of wbrdiS, 
 yet, when applied to to take the chair at large and import- 
 ant gatherings, his natural modesty was nt)t allowed to 
 /control him, His question was, "Do you' think it my 
 duty?" and, when tliat was answered to his satisfaction, 
 he at once consented. So with becoming the cliiiirman of. the 
 "Liverpool British Workman Company." He knew it to 
 be a post of great responsibility, and involving public duties 
 to which he had not been accustomed, but when his fellow- 
 directors brought the aigument of "dutyi" to bear upon 
 him, he quietly bowed and said, "I will do my best," and 
 right well he did it. ■ 
 J . Do -we speak of Patience ? He seemed to have himself 
 under perfect control. One of his most intimate business 
 associates ^ays that in the long years during which he ^ 
 
 ^_^_„^^... 
 
 fr- 
 
 
. ti8 A GOOD SOLDIER OFJkSUS CITRISn 
 
 kneiy,Mr. Mack, he never saw him in the least out of 
 temper. Some of us have seen him in meetings, where he 
 has been sorely tried ; not a hasty word, however, escaped his 
 lips. He had, indeed, learned in patience to posses^ his soul. 
 Do we. speak' of Self-denial I ' We all know that in his 
 church-life self never, seemed to enter iuto his calculations. 
 God's cause was* supreme in his estimation. To piSomote 
 that^ he denied himself to an extent that often made §pme 
 > •C'^us remonstrate with him, though, alas ! in vain, 
 
 ' Do wei speak of Modesty? It whs pre-eminent in his 
 
 .phuracter. H« never in any way referred to hi^iself, or to 
 
 his work. While the most diligent Worker foB^he Church 
 
 tliaji r liave ever known, a stranger might spend days with 
 
 him without hearing a word that would., imply ^hat he' had 
 
 . done anything. In-all the years that I have/known him" 1 
 
 never heard him, either in private or' puhlic, make the 
 
 slightest reference to his generous gifts, or to his arduous 
 
 labours, The, same feature in his character was Seen in 
 
 . his religious associations, ever taking the lowest sea*, audr 
 
 speaking in the most disparaging terins of his own attain-' 
 
 ' ments. He was in eveiy respect worthy the name of a 
 
 good soldier of J^sus-^hrist. - v 
 
 ^A stranger on reading these lines may bp ready to 
 think that, with the natural love, of a |ong-standihg friend- 
 ship, this picture is coloured. My reply, is, that I am 
 speaking to his /nmc?s, to those wIk) knew him eVen 
 better than I did ; and I have no hesitation in saying .that 
 I &m certain thiey will unite to testif^' Uat, so far from my 
 Jiaviijg indulged iii. exaggeration, they could supply facts 
 Hhat would show that the picture is far inferioiA. to the 
 original. I fear I n^i^ sum up all by saying - , ' 
 r • "Hewasani^, take him for ail in ^11, ^V : r 
 
 * ' I shall flot "look upon his like again.'* ^ /^ - 
 
 '•He is, however, gone. iTarth is poorer, but heaven has 
 
 increased itswealth.' The gi:e'at King, whom he loved and 
 
 ; ' — ""■ ~~~ — *~~ — ~' — ": — ' — ^~ — r~ — .., - " ~ "~^ 
 
 .■■"■- ■ ' --'» • ■ ■ ■ • ■ y , . ^ .- '■' : '. > ; . ■ 
 
 .n 
 
 
 '■ i 
 
X-. ■■•■ 
 
 *. 
 
 ./ A^GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST. 219 
 
 loyally served, has said, "Well done."— "Hfe rests from 
 his labours, and his works do follow him." 
 
 , 1 wo\ild ask my hearers, What are you? Are you a 
 BcheU Oh, stop, and think of the, result! Remember 
 your defeat is certain. "Though hand join in hand, the 
 wicked shall not g6 unpunished." "tet the potsherds of 
 the earth strive with the potsherds of 'the earth, but woe ta 
 him that striveth with his Mal^r." . • 
 
 Are you a Deserter; one 'who has 'left his first love, 
 and cast away his regimentals, and is wearing the livery 
 t>f the devil? Oh, "cteflpieinber from whence you have 
 fallen, and repent, and do your Drst works " ! HavjB you 
 found a betto-r friend than Jesus ? Have you a syi'eeter 
 peace,°or -better ^inploynxeut, or a brighter hope than in the 
 days ^f yore ? Bemember, you cannot . escape detection. 
 The eyes of Him you Irave forsaken, ai\d dishonoured, 
 follow you every wlure. You niust soon meet Him. 
 What a meeting it will be ! Your past privileges, 1 and 
 joys, and promises, will rist^^n judgment against you. 
 Jesus, He whom you (mce lovediand served, will brand lyou 
 
 ,„ with a curse, and you will, be cast out into "shame and 
 everlasting contempt." But stop, the end js not yefc God 
 wa,iteth to be\gracious. His message to you to-night is, 
 "Return nnto Me, and I will return unto you." /'Though 
 your sins be as crinison, tliey shall be white as snow." I 
 beseech you not to' reject the offer. But novv, in the 
 .presence of this congregation, and in presence of the holy- 
 angels, say, " I will jirise and go to my Father." 
 
 Are you a Fenitent, writing bitter things against yoivrself, 
 and longing to '&. enlisted in Christ's army ? I say, " Cttuie, 
 
 - for all things are now ready." Remember .His promise, 
 " Hiui that cometh unto Me, I will in" no wise cast out." 
 
 7 He is more anxious to save you, than you are to be saved; 
 
 ' and if now you will rest your soul upon the sacrifice once 
 otfered for the sins of the -world, you, even you,4hall be. 
 admitted into the family of God. ''* - 
 
 — Tr t 
 
 ' t 
 
■I 
 
 aso 
 
 li^it ^ 
 
 l- 
 
 AfOOD SOLDIER Op JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 Are you a soldier of Christ f ' Si^k earnestly "to be a 
 "good soldier." Don't parley with tl.e enemy. Don't' 
 give quarter to the foe. Take your right place, u«e the 
 light weapons, and be faithful untq death. 
 
 To her, whose loss is heavier than that of aH the rest of 
 u^, I will only say, Kemeniber that God is thJ husband of 
 the widow, and that lie never takes a name without taki»<' 
 all tlie responsibilities which belong to that name. He 
 will comfort, strengthen, and guide you here, and receive 
 you to glory hereafter. "^ . 
 
 To the children I would say, Your father's name is a 
 precious bequest. He has covered it with honour, see thai 
 you never disgrace it. , It is said of a certain prince that 
 he used to carry his father's portra^i in his breast, and 
 wheirever tempted to do wrong, .he v^u Id 'look at the 
 po. trait and say. « I must act as th6 son of such a fa:ther 
 should act. So let it be with y6u. \ For his sake, as well 
 as your own. ftvoid all that is evil, and cleave to that which 
 IS good: Follow him. as he^foIlowW Christ. • Be nood 
 ■soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 And now my work is done. ^Wehlive gathered in this 
 crowded congregation to do honour to ioiie whom we have 
 all admired, and loved. AVe now go out into the cold 
 
 world to be^ tempted, and tried, as our 
 
 Godgrant we n.ay be as faithful. We ...... „„„ „„ ,„ccu 
 
 .for worship again on earth. Gfod grait we meet* around 
 wds throne in heaven. A 
 
 sainted brother was. 
 shall ^not all meet 
 
 " O that each in the day < 
 Of His coming may say, 
 'I liave fou^'lit my way throttgli, 
 I Ijave finished th'e work Thoii diUst gi ve,me to do I » 
 
 O that each from his Lord, 
 May receive the glad word, 1 , ,:^ 
 •Well and faithfully done ! I' ■ 
 Ell ter iuto.My joy, und At down on Myf throne I ' " 
 
 Y 
 
 - c- 
 
L.^ 
 
 0'' 
 
 '-■■,■' . < ■ ' ■■ .' ■ 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO TTTE STUDENTS OF 
 
 THE wBsTMINStER AND SOUTHLANDS 
 
 ' COLLEGE, DELIVERED DECEMBER 19, 1882. 
 
 ISiR William M'Artiiuu, K-G, C.B., M.P, in tub Chair. 
 
 Slfe William, and dear Young Friends, _ 
 
 QIE WILLIAM, allow me in' my own ^ name, and lam 
 ^^,. -sure I may say in the name of the Methodist Con- 
 nexion, to congratulate you on the honour which Her 
 Gracious Majesty has conferretl upon you. It is an honour 
 which you have richly merited. I -pray that you may loiig 
 be spared to- enjoy it, and tjiat at last you may exchange 
 the honours of* earth for the hi;4her,.and endless, honour 
 of the skies: The work which now falls into my hands is 
 one *from which I have shrunk with a terror which you 
 cannot imagine ; I have shrunk -from it, not because I am 
 not interested' in the woA, but because I knew my own 
 unfitni^ss, and, was anxipus that some one better qjialified 
 than I am should have the opportunity, and the privilege, 
 of talking to so many of thpSe whamust affect the destinies 
 bf our country. The Committee brought so nnieh pressure 
 to bear iipon me that I yielded *o it, partly becaupe I have 
 mode up niy mfind that I would do ray best to evade no 
 duty belonging to the office I have rtlie honour to hold. 
 I yielded the more readily because of my love)for chfldren. 
 
..'«■»:■•;■ 
 
 ■:h ' 
 
 aaa 
 
 i! 
 
 iii 
 
 ■ » ■ I' 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS, 
 
 and my hearty eympnthy for oil young people ; and if 
 f can say a single word^liat will help our young friends ' 
 in, the solennn, and in»F»ortant work on which they are 
 8r.on to ent..r, I shall be abundantly couipen8a£ed for' 
 tailing up -the cross which I anr now bearing.. All of you 
 •I suppose, are soon going home for Christmas, and you are 
 anticipatmg the; hearty welcome that ^ awaits you. and the 
 happy days which are opening before you, I pray thaf 
 you may ^11 have a safe jonrney, and that your highest 
 hopes may be exceeded. In order to this you must make 
 up your mmd to make those around you happ^. ' You will 
 ^ find in this, as in every other matter, that what a man 
 «oweth. that shall he also reap. Every man, it is said, is 
 either a cloud, or a sunbeam ; and if so, I urge you to be 
 sunbeams. Kcjoice in your youth; a morose, sulky, selfish 
 young person, is a monstrosity ; you were made to be happy » 
 and you should liye so that when you have passed to other 
 * scenes, the memory of your Christmas visit may be a bright 
 ; and sunny spot in the hearts of allwith whom you asfeoci^Ite * 
 I most heartily wish you all a merry Christmas; ..and a 
 happy New Year. To some of you the joy of youi' de^ 
 ^rture will be tempered by, the fact that' you are not : 
 yleturnmg. Your college days are ended. Your education 
 /IS not finished, and neiver will be, but your' drilling is over 
 and now you go to the conflict, in which I trust you will 
 all take a^^oble part. Your residence here niust have^ 
 exerted a great influence upon you,, much greater than' you 
 imagme: and I trust thatyou.can all'" saj; that you are ' 
 nearer heaven, and more like God, than you were when you 
 entered the College. Toyouwho are leaving,! want espe- 
 cially to speak. I wanttosayafew words about yourVqrk, 
 your way of doing it, and the results ofyour doing it well : 
 First, As to your' work. It is Of vital importance that 
 you should have this clearly before you. If you do, not, ^ 
 you will run uncerta i nly, a nd fight a s oi^e that bcateth the^^ 
 
 ( 
 
 V 
 
 V' 
 
' r 
 
 VAIEDICTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 933 
 
 , ■' ■■%■ 
 
 
 air. Tho Mcitlfodist people have, at a large expense, erected, 
 furnisluid, and BUstHirkd tliose Colleges. Tirey have ^wvn 
 up some of Uieir mod* able ministers to supervise your 
 studies. They have taken yon in the njoming of life, and 
 have given yo6 an efficient training,', and their object in all 
 this is thyit they may do tKeir part in rAising up a generi- 
 tion of Christlike men and \^<pn>en. I trust their object is 
 y„j„.s_,tUat you have not tak^n the noblo natne of teacher 
 merely to get a living, or tlmt ytju may improve your social 
 po8Jtion,or that you may impart a certain amount of instruc- 
 tion to the scholars conmiitted to your c5are,or even that you 
 may induce a large number of them to become Methodists, 
 but that your supreme. ollject will be so to train the y6ung 
 people cquimittcd to your charge, that they may become 
 good men and -womjen. a generation to serve God. You 
 may say, But surely if tliey become Methodists they will 
 be this ? 1 wish you were right in your supposition. But-, 
 aias ! most of us kno\V, to our sorrow, tliat it is iipt so. 
 If J take up an apple,-«Hd^nd flaws here, and there, though 
 I know it is an apple, I do not call it a good. One. And 
 so with^ m&ny nfemberi of the Church. I do not doubt 
 but that they ar^ Christians, but those who are brought ; 
 into„ cbntact wit4i them, know that they are not gond ones. 
 They have grace, but they have not been properly trained 
 in their youth. God has done great things for them , bu t 
 man has done but little. The result .is that, thougli tjiey 
 bear the name of Christ, they do not adorn tlis doctrine in 
 all things. They Iiave never learned the high art of self- 
 control. They are" passionate, proud, and contentious. 
 This 'is very much the result of early neglect, a^id, wliile 
 we mourn' over their ineonsistencies, we can but feel that 
 they are as much to te pitied, as blamed. We look to you 
 by* God's help to, give us a gen^atiop free from these defects. 
 You will see from this th&t I do not, with many, confound 
 
 i g. and developing. Many 
 
 instruction, and educatiou/imp a rt i n 
 
■^'X 
 
 924 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 t" 
 
 
 parents, and oven aouio niomWrs of School Committees, 
 8«eni to regard children m 8o\many empty phials, to be 
 filled by the teacher with a eertjlin uino mt of information, 
 and if whon examined they aro\fonnd | to contain a due 
 quantity of grammar, arithmetic, and geography, they are 
 content, though nothing has been done to develop the 
 character, and lit thft child for the position which ho is 
 destined to occupy in the near future. IJewaro that you 
 never fall into this delusion. You must never forget that 
 the children arc moral agents, to be trained for God, and 
 heaven, Do you say. Who is sufficient for a work so great 
 as this? I reply, You are, if you go about your work in 
 a right si)irit, and in a right way. 
 
 Secondly, Let us see how your work is to be done. 
 First, be yourselves what you wish your scholm-s to be. 
 Vour greatest difficulty will be here. Therefore I j)ut it in 
 the front, and if I had a Voice of thunder I would cry in 
 the ears of every teacher, Be yourselves what you wish 
 your children to be. You will soon be free from restraint, 
 and be in possession of that much " coveted, but most 
 dangerous thing, power. If you are not very watchful, and 
 prayerful, that which was njeant to secure your success, will 
 ensure your defeat. Actions speak louder than words, and 
 are far more influential than books. Depend upon it, the 
 mosft powerful influence in your schools will be your owii 
 iives. 'Childreii understand, and- feel, the power of your life 
 long before they can understand your lessons. It will be of 
 little use for you to warn them against pride, and anger, and 
 cruelty, if you are proud, and angry, and cruel. It will be 
 pf little use for' you to teatE justice, truth, and self-denial, 
 if you are unjust, untruthful, and selfish. It will be of 
 little use for you tb warn the children against vanity and 
 frivolity, if .you are vain and frivolous yourself. Whatever 
 book is neglected, your life will be carefully studied by 
 
ni'ttees^ 
 to bo 
 
 I . 
 
 nation, 
 a due V 
 
 
 ey are 
 )p the 
 
 y 
 
 ho is 
 
 
 it you 
 t that 
 (1, and 
 
 : . ' • % 
 
 ■''.'•\ •'. 
 
 * • :." .'• ,;^ 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADDBESS. 
 
 »5 
 
 them, and hey will do the oanifl witli ;/««. Childn»n are 
 •julck diHceiners of eharncter, and are randy wronj; in the 
 (slimate tl ey form. I will undMako that every girl in 
 your flchoo will know the tirst morning the Hchool opens 
 whether y|)u are a d«»ll, or a teacheir ; and eVcry hoy w,ill 
 know wh«inher you are u fop or a num.* HoHifhfs, chi'ldruu 
 lire naturally tojiyista. At the beginning of life^ they are 
 merely ])la8tic materials, to be moulded Jhto vessels of 
 honour, orldishonour by the hands of oJ|J[iiers. ' Habit becomes 
 to nil of ijB second nature, liut these habits are tVtrined we 
 know notlhow. At flr^t finp as the thread of go.s»anier, at 
 last/they 'become cables that'Ao human ha^d cai| sever. 
 Tliis is |)|Ut with great force by tlie prophet Jereiiiiah when 
 he says,! *' Oan the Ethiopian dhango his skin or thq 
 leopard bis i^>ot8 ? Then may ye also c^o good that are 
 acjustomed to do evil." These habits are rartjl^ the result 
 of teaching or choice, but are mainly formed by ,the exaniple, 
 and indirect influortce, of those around us. Yoiir intin- 
 ence will be otdy secmid to that of the mother, and father. 
 In many cases the example in /the home'£t)m wliich the 
 children come, will be of a most injurious character j hence 
 the immense importance of your exanj pie. being ever of the 
 right kind. The Apostle Paul saw the importance of this 
 when writing to his young friend^/Timotliy, and Titus. 
 Over, and over again, he ir^pressesi^upon them the necessity 
 of watching over themselves, so that their lives might never 
 contradict their teaching ; ojid with all ,the power I possess 
 I charge you, as Paul charged >(lie Ephesian elders, " Take 
 . heed to yonrselves " as weU as to^Jie- flock. Be evier " living 
 epistles" which your children maysread to the glory of God. 
 Thirdly, If yoii wish to succeed)^ a Methodist teacher, 
 take your rigfife place in the Chnrch with tvhich you may be 
 associated. J^^t your colours as soon^as you arrive, and, 
 having hoisted them, let neither men, norMevils, induce you 
 
 to pull them down. Say like the bt/lve old captain, wbeii.. 
 
 : ; rr 
 
 t 
 
 V 
 
 ^ 
 
 '■V. 
 
** ^ » ^■ 
 
 ii 
 • I 
 
 at6 
 
 yALEDICTORY APDHESS. 
 
 HUiumorHMl to <»uireiul«r Inn sliip by a powMrful onomy, *' I 
 •hull iiwvwr Btriku my c<»l(Hirs; I fthall mil umKr tluiii, oi 
 Bink with tht-m." You me goiiij( out not riu-mly as toachorsl 
 hut m MiithodiHt tcachtiM, and I want you to h>xA thiit tijo 
 character ol' the MelhoUiat day'Huhool inovciuiuit iH in your 
 haiids. Your ohiqiient, and uncon(|iumU>lu Trindpal (Dr. 
 Jrig}{) may write unanswerable articlen in its «lefcnco, hut 
 Tnon nra governe<t 1^ mofii by feelin«;, than l)y !ogic7and 
 the estimate Which our people will form of the move- 
 ment will be inlluenced far more jjy your conduct thon by 
 hiH writiuj^s. Tlio Methodist people have made p;roat 
 snerifitcH in order to secure etlicient Methodist teacihers, and 
 sulely they have a right to expect that they will bo pro- 
 tluced. Their expectations nniy be unreasonable in some 
 other respects, but they ought not to be disappointed in 
 this. Kverything is now being teBted by results, and it 
 will be the same with our educational machinery. Give us 
 good, earnest Methodist teachers, and our peojdo will stand 
 by it to the end ; but if we have teachers who are mere 
 teachers, who stand apart from the Church, an* regard it as 
 merely an institution for their suppoft, no elo(j4ience of Dr. 
 Kigg, and bjs friends, will be able to save it. What, then, 
 you will ank, ought the supporters of the day schools to 
 expect- me to do ? I answer, first join the Church— and dq,,^ 
 n«)t be njerely an honorary member. Select your Cass, ancf^ 
 having selected it, keep the class-night sacreik I kn«»w';^r. 
 this will involve sacrifice, but you must do it fpfeyour own 
 Mke, and for the honour of Methodism. IninS work of 
 yoiiT school there will be much spiritual wlar and tear, J i 
 ind if your soul is not carefully fed you will at last utter / 
 the terrible wail, "They made me a keeper of vineyards, bi^l t 
 my own vineyard I have not kept^ ~^^^ ^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Then be a worker in the Church. Dd liot be an ecclesias- 
 tical dummy. Do not mjike a fuss as to what you will do 
 
 wIm^i^^ou hrst arrive; be like the light, lelt rathift' than hear<| 
 
 .^, 
 
VALEDIGTORY A DP HESS, 
 
 9il 
 
 - -.a a g E: . . 
 
 And if yoii iiw whut you sliould Ito, not one uf yoti will Iw 
 in ytmr school twulvoraontlw, Uoforo tlio \vhol« ('Imrch will 
 feel your influence. II' thero U a \wvn\, j«)in th« Sunday 
 Bchool. I knww yoii may toll mo thiit you luivo m much 
 teachinj? tlurjug tho w«ok that you would profor a change; 
 but duty, not phnisurc, must Im your guido, and tho RacriUce 
 you will mako will bring a rich rowurd. You will ftnd 
 that your work in the Sundi^ scliool, will bo l>r graftir 
 service to you on the woek-dfty, and th« iiill u-oco you havo 
 ol)tain«d in tho day school, will greatly help you in ;3roup 
 work on the Sal)bulh. 
 
 By all means tnke hohl of tho Band of Hope. This is 
 Ood's great agent for Having tho childiou froiu tho eurno 
 under wlwA so nw^ny millions have porish«d\ The cur«o is 
 everywhere, aitd the remedy should bo everywhere. Your 
 preaenoe at the Band of Hope meetings will be of immense 
 setvice. Your habits of order, and your sympathy with' 
 children, will enable you to make any Band of Hope a 
 success; while your 8«df-donial will bo understood by the, 
 children, and appreciated by tho population an)und. I 
 advise every one of you to take the Blue Ilibbon ; and, if 
 yott have not- done it already, it will be a great gratification 
 to mo to give it to you this morning; I provided nuffielf 
 witli the material before I came. \ ^ . 
 
 There are other departments of Church- work which will 
 
 be open to you. but 1 have dwelt espebially upon tho 
 Sunday school, and Band of Hope, because they deal with 
 childreu.^ttnd therefore are to a large extent a part of your 
 work. You will find that religious teaching, and temperance, 
 are indispensable if you are to raise up a generation of good 
 men and women. 
 
 " Fourthly, Do not seek office in the Church, but if in God'a 
 providence it comes to you, do not refuse it. It is a great 
 power for good, and poWer for good should be welcomed by 
 alL I would especially apply this remark to the otidce of 
 
 f- 
 
'V. 
 
228 
 
 VALEDICTOk Y AI>I)JiE'>S. 
 
 II J 
 
 Class-leader. You, of all people, will make efficient Class- 
 leaders. Your bright, quick intelligence will ensure yout 
 popularity with the young, and in this way your influence 
 in the School will be consummated in the Church. By this 
 time I fancy yo^i will be ready to say, But you have said 
 nothing about our work proper. I acknowledge that 1 
 have said nothing directly on the subject, but if you take, 
 my advice you will find indirectly L have said a great deal. 
 You have now been for years und^ careful training, and 
 Imve already had considerable experience in teaching; I 
 will, therefore, not dwell upon that, but content myself 
 with saying, Wherever you go, be sure and reverence the 
 children committed to your care. They wiU often be wild 
 and unlovable, and familiarity will tempt you to under- 
 estimate them ; but guard against this. Hemember they 
 are all God's children, all made by Him, redeemed by^ Him, 
 loved by Him, and that He who said, "Honour all men," 
 is especially saying, "Honour the children." They are of 
 priceless value. ^^ 
 
 " The sun is but a spark of fire, 
 A transient meteor in the sky ; 
 The child, immortal as its Sire, 
 ' . Can never die. " 
 
 ^hey must live for ever, either amidst the saved in heaven, 
 or the lost in hell, and which it shall be will greatly depend 
 on you. "Take heed, therefore, that you despise not one 
 of these little ones." They may be dull, wayward, and 
 ignorant, but there is no vessel on the sea, or palace on the 
 land, ijliat can be compared in value to the poorest, and 
 worst diild under your care. If, therefore, yoti would suc- 
 ceed in tyour work, ever look at the children in the light of 
 revelati(^, and this will greatly help you in bearing°with 
 their waywardness, and ignorance, and in your efforts to 
 make them all that their Heavenly Father designs them to be. 
 Lastly, Look a- moment at the certain results, of your 
 
VALEDICTORY ADIXnESS. 
 
 229 
 
 faithful work. First, you will have the comfort of a goojl 
 conscience. Conscience will speak in these matters, and it 
 is of immense importance to you that it should approve of 
 your work. You will in the future be left pretty much | 
 alone with God, your conscience, and your children. If you 
 please, you may neglect your work, or do it carelessly, but 
 you will do 80 at your peril. Your three witnesses will 
 not be gagged, and they will speak when you least wish to 
 hear them,— at examinations, in the midnight hour, and on 
 the judgment day. If, however, you have done your best, 
 all will be well. You may not please your committee ; 
 you may not have done so well as some others ; but if you 
 have patiently, prayerfully, done your best, you will have 
 the priceless comfort of the testimony of a good conscience 
 and the suiile of a loving Go*. Secondly, you will have 
 the love of your children. , It is a great thing to live in 
 books, but it is greater to live in human hearts. The books 
 will perish by and by, but the hearts will endure for ever. 
 IF has been well said that " The friendship of a child is the 
 richest jewel set upon the circlet of society— a jewel worth 
 a world of pains." This treasure you may secure, and, if 
 you obtain it, no man will be able to take it from you. Do 
 your duty, and in future years your name will be music in ■ 
 the ears of your scholars, and your memory enshrined in 
 the holy temple of loving hearts. Thirdly, you will have 
 the gratitude of the parents of your children. As the 
 children grow up to be God-fearing men and women, carry- ? 
 ing, their parents' burden, and comforting their parents' 
 hearts, they will bless the day wh6n you were appointed to 
 ithe school. Fourthly, you will fiave the esteem of the 
 Church. Some people say they do not care what people 
 think about them. Such people are either ignorant, or 
 wicked. You must care. A good name Is better than great 
 riches, and as, you fill the Church's ranks with godly men 
 and women, she will crown you with her blessing, and when 
 
 ^?ar 
 

 Vrif!- 
 
 . » K 
 
 230 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 'you pass into eternity inscribe upon your tomb, as they did 
 upon the tomb of a noble worker in by-jrone days, " Sacred 
 to the memory of Henry TLornton, who brought littl# 
 children to Christ, that He might bless them." Fifthly, 
 you will have the public approval and reward of God. You 
 and your children must meet again at the great tribunsd. 
 Then there will be a review of your work, and as you stand 
 amidst the scholars y&a have won for Christ, you will say 
 with holy joy, « Here am I, and the children Thou gavest 
 me." And He will say, " "VV^ll done, thou good and faiithful 
 servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will 
 make thee ruler over many things : enter tliou into tlie joy 
 of -thy Lord." We now part, not all to meet again tdl 
 that day God grant us grace that we may all be tailhful I ^ 
 ■Amen ■ ,' 
 
 "0 that each in the day 
 Of His coming may say, 
 ' I have fought my way through, 
 
 I have finished the work Thou didst give me to do I ' 
 , O that each from his Lord 
 
 May receive the glad word, 
 
 SWell and faithfully done ! 
 Entei- into My joj, and ftit down on My throne.' '* 
 
 ■i! 
 
 Tlf^ 
 
 :*V0..'' 
 
.v'-, 
 
 '\ 
 
 xvt 
 
 STOP TB£ &API* ' 
 
 TH AT Englishman musthavft. a coW heart who can Joolc __ 
 Tit the^present state pf^this country without emotions 
 of the iiveliSr^ratitude. Coiiipare the last fifty years* 
 history of other nations, with that of our own, and how 
 wonderful is the contrast ! While other lands Jjave^-!>.e^-» 
 the scene oi_bMshed and strife, England, dwelling in 
 peace, lias gone amongst the nations' like a i;nagnet, drawing 
 islaiids, and •continents, to 'herself. And to-day, while the 
 tempest is sweeping around o^her kingdoms, she sits Queen 
 
 ^ of the seas, with the light of a ceaseless morning shining on 
 her flag. ' "While, however, this thought produces joy, it 
 should irlso produce deep anxiety. .', These; privikges, and 
 these acquisition^ of territory, bring with tjiemtrenifendous 
 responsibilities. Tb whom much is given, of them much will 
 
 ' be required. jf^England is to be the, leader of the nations, 
 if GodJijiS^ given us a great and solemn mission, it becomes 
 our bounden duty to see that we are prepared for its accom- 
 
 ' plishment. If a man has a work tp do which will require 
 all his strength; he must be dili^yitiii!^attendii^? ta^ 
 liealth, or nirthe hour of trial he;^ill fail. If a vessel is 
 going on, a long and dangerous voyage wiiJi a rich cargo, care 
 must be ' takeiTlp^Ti^'^rabefsr he sound^and her crew 
 
 1 An Adilrt'ss givea in Exeter Hall, at a m<«ting.of the Band ot Hope 
 Union. SamuejV Motley, Esci.,M. P., in the chair. , 
 
 •.'';,■ 281 ■ -: '^''"' 
 
 v-o 
 
 V- 
 
 ;':rt.- 
 
 (H 
 
f- 
 
 'Xi' 
 
 ■f 
 
 I 
 
 '\ '• •': » 
 
 ^3* * ^ STOP THE GAP/ V 
 
 , . :■'.■■•.■ ' ■•■"'■■■"■- ;.-.- r^ ■' ■■v-, "V 
 
 ^a4>^\^^y- ;Atid 80, If England is to b© the leader and evaj*. " 
 X^ gWisei- of the imtiohs. it .becomes us to W that no intirniri 
 . V ttviJ'is tolerated, and bfiat she shall: not only be ateach^r' •" 
 ; ^^'J^a^odeHpa- I look on pur own dear land not only >' 
 
 ' , with pride, but u^th a |re'at deal of hope. I know there are 
 evjls.amQngat,us, and their name is legiiip;, but I also know 
 
 • tliaysjpoiLaaan^evilisfiurjy seen, there w sure to eprin" 
 > lip a baii^:ofmen who, with a bol^J,£jirt, and a determined 
 
 . ^^ -hand, will set themselves to grapple witli; and destroy it. 
 
 jj And because I have faith. STthT ultimate tf {'lunplT'of all 
 
 ;_ • tiaiih;.and the certain destruction of all evil, I have no 
 
 doubt of their success. |Ierice it is that I rejoice^n the 
 
 various orgimizatidnSjoTB^ of our popula- ' 
 
 tion, and making o^^count0 wlmtlS^esigos^i^^ 
 
 • may name espe^allj^ the Biblfi. JSocipties, the; Home Mis- ^ 
 8imuMT-S«Cieties, the School Societies, the 'T(#mperance 
 Societies,' tlie United Kingdom Alliance, and the Baiid of 
 IJope Union. AU. of them needed; all of them raised up ^ 
 to coiiteud^Mdtli_a_apecifiG_£vi1 ; all of them pagts of GodV 
 greatmaclu^ intelligent, healthy '• 
 :and hoT3rrand all of them the,cirildrep of the present, 
 century, cliildren t*iat shall mafltji their parent to be remem^ 
 bei-ed with joy as long as the sun, and moon, endure/ ' 
 To.-night, I wish to fix. your attention especially on the 
 Ba|^d-^l Hope Union, and to show you that' it deserves the 
 sympathy and support, not only .of every Christian/ but * 
 •of every patriot. 
 
 There^are in our land, this day, ten miUions of young 
 peogle. They ar^wo^ to come, th^an here ; here, with their ' - 
 ^li8liL«ies, and mejT3[_voices,^fia"iovinc;_Wrts; here * 
 holdjno^their^hands nqLQBly.the happiness pf the varibiis' 
 fi^nilies tojwhich they belong, tuj-jhe^char^cter of this, and 
 c^imiUt^^iaierations. They are hereTVitl^ ' bodies to be 
 clothed and fed ; with minds to be trained Am educated.^ 
 with souls to be sanctifited and saved ; and, oh Ito my eyes ' 
 
 .■^^^ 
 
 'Y 
 
'W-'" 
 
 .■■■*. ,' 
 
 STOl" THE GAP I 
 
 «33 
 
 th^re is no sight in-the wdrl4 8o«aCttractive, and so beaiUiful ' 
 as |,hese. Would that I could cqmpeL tiig, jB^^eJ^of . the 
 Christtan Church to test upon them, till^ fairly took, 
 in their imgienafi^inipp^baece ! Thet-fe is no wj|bject that 
 will bear k "moment's comparison w^h the tremehdously 
 .solemn question— What ia our duty, to the&e ten, mxllion, v 
 idhildjCEUj ? ©od has given them into out ^ands, and? lye' 
 .cannot escape from the responsibility, though .wjb mtity' '• 
 neglect the duty.. They" are owr; children, whether we are, ''\ 
 sio^^^jr^ married ; yrhether \fh hayp< families,' qc none, they, 
 are o/trs. You may turn axiyjy IVom-'thiEgttiand say-^-^-Ain I 
 niy brother's keeper ?v but whom'GoiiVhaa joinecl together 
 no man can put -asunder, aha Avc'a^ jointed to them far i 
 "better or worse. \i we neglect them, and they grow up in 
 'ignorance, we shall have |o stippoft them iij tMe-workhouse ; 
 if they 'Ibecome criminal, ye shall Have to" bear" the expense 
 of the police, .a^d^rispn, knd- ifljji, tlie fb'aehinerjr of puiiish- 
 l nrent. *We' Inay 'cast, thejm' offj but they .will find us out 
 soonej^or lat^r,"ilr thia,WQrld,.6r Uid next. Our happiness- 
 and honour are involved in our coudubtjtolhem: If we 
 shut the door J&g&inst thejm.-and leaved thefla to their fftte. 
 ,and" the;^ be5om£J^Qiant,Jmmj^ they will 
 
 br^^u^jwiiyv^a^ti^^ whicH will jge yer be-era sed. If, off 
 the otherTland, w^^thibw every merejy selfish thouglirt to the 
 winds; and, filled with the conviction of tliieir grandeur dnd 
 importance, devote aU our energies to the Work of making 
 them what God " designed them to, b,e, they vriU' throw 
 around qur name a halo of glory which will last for ever - 
 and jever. This* t]hen, is our gtvat question — What ^hall \ 
 
 • we do with bur children ? .'The, day is rapidly coming 
 when we must stand face to fa;ce with them before God. In 
 His eyes, indolence is siw; attd He wilt held ju3 responsible 
 for doing all that we have the ability to .Jdo. I ask tjitenj . 
 
 * What, in that greaji and terrible day, shall we wish that we « 
 had done for them^ 'We want them to be healthy, ihteUi- ' 
 
 --l^ 
 
 t ■ 
 
 
 -■■if- -■ ■ 
 
\ 
 
 fii 
 
 ■■\ :.:. 
 
 ^■ 
 
 .»34 
 
 STOP THE GAP! 
 
 gen|t> and- holy : can. wo do anything towards sectfffng this ? 
 Th^re is an answefL^from thei throne of God ; that answer 
 ev|ry man shonld hear and believe. There is infidelity in 
 ,th| Church, ds well as oat of it. Many, of God's declara- 
 tiolns are often treajtei by us nB jf tliey were idle words.. 
 GM speaks to us as > wtj^toyi, as well as to lis as 'parents, 
 when "He says, " Tra^h up a child in the way he. should go, 
 aild when he is old iio will wot depart l>om it." wiiether 
 tills condemns us, or /not, we are bound to believe it. Let 
 ^jod be true, and eVery man a liar. 1 say, then, tp th(J 
 hurch of Christ, talce hold of these ten millions at once; 
 thi^yare now soft, Ijender, plastic, mouldable; a tone will 
 siir their young spuls to the very depths,, a look will fiffebl.. 
 ^ lem for ever. Bi|t a hardening proces^ has commeTiced 
 pon them, and if j they are not seized at once, they will 
 ecome harder thari granite, or adamant, and then scaiding 
 ;ears, and the mosti earnest toils, will be all" biit useless. I 
 ;t\joice to know that the Church, and nation, „are waking up 
 ;o this. Archbishcip Whateley has said that the great work- 
 i the present generation is to take car^pf the you ng ; and 
 [this conviction siems to have taken hold ttf all classes. 
 Hence day schools are starting up in afraosl every viliiige; 
 there is a Suncjlay school connected with almost every 
 church ; and bopks^ are being wrilten, sermon^ preached, 
 classes formed; aijid efforts of m^very kind put forth, in order 
 to preserve the cttildren of our country froni the srasp of 
 the destroyer. And yet, are they becoming what we dei^ire 
 them to be? Alas ! the answer is not doubtful. There 
 are nearly halC of them who pev^r enter our schools, and 
 thousands of th6m who live as if tfie Cross had never been 
 erected, and di^ as if the Church had never been formed> 
 ^°™ *" ^..p*^!"'^^^*" ^^'^^ ^i'^y are, as Charles Ki^igsley 
 saysr'^ damneii from thfsir birtli ;"-^tliey go astray from 
 the womb, spealking ^ies ; and after living a short life of sin 
 they die a dehth of mise ry,' and pass out into a terrible 
 
 
 ■■ ■ ■ * ■-- 
 
 " ■ - . \ ■ 
 
 
 ..'4;' 
 
 
 
 
 ■ ♦ . . " 
 
is-".^;. 
 
 
 STOP THE GAP! 
 
 M 
 
 V 
 
 
 elefhity. Had I time, I mi'ijht show that drink is the great 
 weight' tliat^H^*3tivy;ged them;& this vortex; that thi,: . 
 driiHang'jbflbiitawof their parents are the "principal reason 
 wh^niiey «ie -kept beyond our reach. These are raiely-tTie 
 ' children of abstainers. In almost every case -drink has latd ' 
 iits Wack li'and upon tlie parentSj and the children seem only 
 born to intensify the horror of the desolation it produces. 
 'Release the working men of this country from the drinkl 
 demon, and th^r chihlrenwill at once start up into morality . 
 and intdligence; and, suitable clothing having been ob- 
 tained, the parent* « will i^ejoice to place their children in 
 Vour schools, and to have them, trained up to virtue and 
 *.ii4igion. But turning away frbm those who never enter our 
 scliools, I look at those who^ do ceme, and ask, Are these 
 being regeijerated and saved ? Bo they pass out of the 
 f^undiiy scljbol into the Chwqli ? Let each Sunday-school 
 Iteaclter carefully exanMne the records of his, own school for 
 >lhe last ten yeiars, and give us the i-esult. P^iss out of the 
 / schoolinto the Church ? • Alas ! there \vas an answer <;iven 
 to that question In this city twelve n^onths ago, whiih 
 ' ought to have stirred tl^e (3l»urch from end to end. It was 
 shown at the Conference of ^he ' Sunday-School Union that 
 didy one in ten of the scholars fckoint'S ft' member of the 
 visible Church ! Teachers, is^ this' what ypu c6ntumplato 
 in your self-sacri'ficing toil? Ministers,' is this to *be 
 . the en4 of your" labour, and prayers, anxiety, and care ? I 
 appeal to the Church of Christ ; can ^t be borne that nine- ^ 
 fcenijis of our' immortal, God-nmde,*'blood-bought children 
 should pass out of our hands into those ol" the devil ? Do 
 we call into existence this immense, and (expensive, machinery 
 for this? • Can we, dare we, be satislied \a ith rescuing but a^ 
 tithe of our children from 'destruction ? No ; surely ,..no I 
 We see in each a iamb over whcun the Good SliephetiJ is 
 lonying to rejoice. Our anibiti<n. ia to present tlvem all 
 ■ * ■ • "^ • - ^ - - ^- ^'uit"- tliey nm y ^*a ll 
 
' 'l ^ 
 
 
 i3« 
 
 STOP THE, GAPt 
 
 salveUon find, j^nd not a soul be left behind." And can w6 
 bear the thought, that only on6 in ten of thoae for whom we 
 have written, and preached, and prayed, and toiled, should 
 leave the school meinjbers of the visible Church! The 
 thought should fall Won our hfearts like a spark from hell ! 
 Only one for Christ t^ , Where' then are the nine? With 
 more than a mother'sWxiety, that question should be ^sked 
 by the Christian ChuU. Here is a young woman who is - 
 blessing <3od for the Sabbath ^chopLand for the Jnfluenco 
 rt exerted upon her. buUhere are her nine compamons ? 
 Here IS a young man rejoicing in the favourof God. but 
 -vhere are the nine lads who used to sit by his side ? 
 W. of them thoughtless and worldly ; some of them, ' 
 I and by. to have old memories revived, and stand as 
 ^monuinentsofrabrcy; but others, alas! passing from the 
 school, to vice, brntalitor. crime, and destruction. Where are 
 the n^ne ? You will fnd one ip thwt poor creature. wiVi 
 -wasted constitution, dVing on ft Jvorkhouse bed, and gcitSa ' 
 ^"tda^pauper's^rftye. 'Whei-eare the nine? You will find 
 another in that brutal wretch, who, as his heart-broken wife 
 tries to gather smiles op her face, andgreet him. with words ' 
 j;ofkindnes8> lV^lls;lier tolhe earth, and with oaths and 
 :^ curses, kicks the trembling form he once swdre to love a^d 
 ■cherish. Where are they ? There is t)rte- in that guilty 
 •creature Ivho stands at the gin pal.ice; lying in wait for the 
 ' passers-by. Ay f shiinl^ot back-; vge, as she now is, she < 
 was once a happy child in your school. You took her by 
 the hand, you polished her by your interx;ourse.— you, by ' 
 your knidnes? aH care, i-endered her more womanly and 
 . bcmtifol, and sensitiyte ; and there she is now, doin« the 
 •devil's work,, and eurping the, devil's wages. v Wher^ are . 
 they?. There, in, tbiit poor ^irl hastening throuirh y»ur 
 streefci bent upon destruction. Hej?" father loved her as I^ 
 love n,y children ; j>rtiyed for her as I -pray for mine; and 
 when she Was born sm M—Thi s s am e shall comfort n i e> and — 
 
 \ 
 

 :?:. 
 
 • »*}, 
 
 
 • • 
 
 ./.■> ;,. 
 
 ^TOP THE GAP! 
 
 m 
 
 now, sicl^ of a world> which to her eyes seems filled witli 
 fues, she leaps fronvthe bridge 
 
 
 . " M»tl from liff 's hUtrtry, 
 
 ' ■• • Glad to dtiitb'8 niyBtory ; ' 
 
 "« , Swift to b« liiiilfd-^ • ■ . . 
 
 ■-;»'• - ■ ', ■ <« ■ 
 
 ' ■ , • Anywhere— any wheru— out -of the world ! 
 
 ":■:■■ V , .•■ . ■•■-,/ ;■ ■ ■ .- ;■'■. • ', . < ■ ^ . ■ 
 
 Whcire ar6 the nine? Tn your priisons, in , fhe lunatic 
 
 ~ RSylttms, at the hulks, and swin^kig froru the gallowsjr— ;- 
 Yes, fellow-teachers, though you liave to loo^|rib the scene 
 with aching hear.t8 and tear-filled eyes, there are your: 
 
 ' scholars. ' You cared foi: thein,.and toiled and t)ray^d. H»}d 
 yet the wmf of hell has dragged them to destruction."' You 
 say," this is terrible i So it is ; so terrible that my lips 
 quiVer as I speak. Al(id, oh, would to God that it were--' 
 not true ! Would that it could be Shown that we had only 
 
 , lost the me, and had saved the >tme .' But, alas! however /• 
 we may differ as to the 'cause, there is a terrible agreement \ 
 as to the fact, that the majority of our scholars do not enter 
 
 '^ the Churdh of Christ, and that thdusands of them sink to the 
 lowest depths of vice and criminality. Ifc is stated by the 
 
 " Sabbath-School Teachers' teague, tltat " out of ten thousand^ 
 three hundred ahd sixtv-one iiimates of prisons and peni 
 tentiaries, six thousand fivienundred and seventy-tWo had 
 previously received religious instruction in Sabbath schools !*' 
 These returns are from various localities, showing that thei'e 
 
 - was no local cause to which this result mighV be attributed ; 
 
 ,v and this Aleclaration is, fully corroborated by subsequent 
 
 testimony. The late Mr. Clay, so many ^ears chaplain of 
 
 the Preston, House of Correction, says that. sixty out of every 
 
 hundred prisoners put under his care had been Sunday- 
 
 .^ebool scholars. Well, but it may be .said, that is in 
 
 i.Lancasliire, where almost ^vei^ child passes through the 
 
 Sabbath School. Let us, then, go.to, Northampton ; and is it 
 
 better there ?!]rhe Rev.>^Hutton,Va'i^ diligent and 
 
 Vlnteliigeiit gentleiuan, for some time chaplain tcj tlie North- 
 
 A 
 
 / 
 
 ^m.;: 
 
 
 ■(« 
 
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 ■I' ./ 
 
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 '*• 
 
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 MS 
 
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 Smf.T^M GAP! 
 
 umpton gaol, says that one-half the prisoners committed 
 that plactf, had been Sublmth scholars fi'vg years, and upward! 
 Yes, it niay be replied, Northampton has a large amount of^ 
 vice, resulting from the habits of those engaged in the shoe 
 trade, and that may have had an influence. I go then to~ 
 my own county, Dorsetshire. There,'>there are no tall 
 chimneys, no corrupting manufactures, but bold downs, and 
 green tjelds, and beautiful hedge-rows, where NatuteTTg' 
 always speaking for her God, And is that county an 
 exception to this sad testimony ? Alas I no. I find t^iat 
 out of one thousand an4 fifty-seven prisoners in Dorsetshire 
 gaol, seven hundred and twenty-three have been scliolars in 
 your Sabbath schools I No; there is no local explanation 
 possible. It is evident that there is a, wntwrsar cause for . 
 this destruction ; and 'that cai^e .every Christian^ ay, and 
 eveiy man deserving the name of patriot, is bound tg do his 
 best to discover, and, having discovered, to remove, .This is 
 the only course which wise men can pursue. To refuse to 
 look at it, or to pass on with indifference, is madness. * 
 
 Would nob the shepherd be filled with anxieC^r, if every 
 year his flock was thus thiiuied by some destroyer ? Would 
 not the farmer be startled, if only one-tenth of his seed 
 came to perfection ? and would he not set himself most 
 carefully to seek a remedy? Is not the attention of the 
 Lancashire manufacturers given to every scheme suggested 
 for preventing^^rtfeingle fibre of t^eir cotton from becoming 
 waste ? And shall we, who are entrusted with material of 
 infinite value, be heedless of the terrible loss to which I, 
 liave shown we are now subjected ? No ; surely, no. Our 
 Ipve to souls— our love tojQod^^forbids it. Creatures for 
 whom Christ died miist not be lost, if there be any possibility 
 of their salvation. When, some years ago, Admiral Hunter 
 ,lost a vessel through endeavouring to save a sailor who had 
 fallen overboard, he said at his court-martial, " Gentlemen, 
 
 I consid e r that any one of my cre w la of mote value than 
 
STOP TMS GAP I 
 
 «3S 
 
 all the vcsfieU in His Mnjesty'a fleet ; " ami every true rnun 
 will honour liini fur the declaration. And qo I Hay, we Imtl 
 l)etter, a tltousanil tinieH, lose our floikH, our tteed, uur 
 cotton, or aniytliing, than hme our children ; betUu- liuvo 
 \va.ste anywhere than in our S.ibhath 8ch(M)U. I ask, then, 
 08 I look at thesti bcIiooIh feeding our workhouHes, and our 
 priHons, Whence \% this wanto ? Is there some law of heavuri 
 which compels it ? If so, theii let tts sink down in imit#- 
 submission, and say, \ was dnnd), I oponoU not my inouih, 
 lor Thou didst it. But is it l^o ? No ; thank God; uo. 
 The declaration of God is clear and full. "It is not the 
 will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones 
 8hou\|il perish." That is^ decisive; and at once the dark 
 fear which had crept around us rolls away. God wills the 
 salvation of civery diild, and, therefore, there is uo insur-- 
 mountablo difficulty. Tln', caiise isfi'orn, beneath ; it can he 
 
 ' ascertained, and, hy the hleaainy of God, removed. Let us 
 ^e^k it. And where should we go for information, but to 
 tfiose who haviB sufTered— to the few who are left to testify 
 as to the cause of this ruim. I go to them ; I ask the 
 question. What dragged you down froni purity, and intelli- 
 gence, and honour, and plunged yoi; into misery, and crime ? 
 ^nd the answer comes with doleful uniformity — " Strong 
 Drink." ^ There may be other collateral causes. Ther^ is 
 the natural depravity /of the "human heart; there is the 
 influence of improper companions; there is the immense 
 amount of trashy, or vicious, literature ; and there is the evil 
 example by which they are ever surrounded. Bat, judging 
 
 ' from the testimony of the victims, from the declaration of 
 those who have most carefully examined the subject, and. 
 who have had the fceat means of arriving at a correct opinion, 
 and from my own somewhat extensive observation, I do not 
 hesitate to say, that I believe strong drink is, directly or 
 indirectly, the jarmctpaZ cause of the destruction over which 
 we uiourii. ' And now comes the (^Ujestion^ Are we in any 
 
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# 
 
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 STOP THM GAPl 
 
 nioasiiro to l^am« in thl« itmttor T ami, if so, ran wo pursue 
 n iHittof plan in tlio future? I answer, Yes; We art to 
 blonus , wo wmy do U)tt«r. Hiero must Ikj wunothluK wronj^ 
 in our traininj^ of thflso childron, or th«y wouM not pirish. 
 I bolitivo that ^vory child, trulm'd at GotI would liuvo him 
 be, will kiconie % Christian, and get to heavow. Kvery ouo 
 of UB nnist l)eli»ve tliis, for Go<l has said it. Ut u» then 
 endeavour to H nci ottfc our error, for wi must not go on n« 
 wo httV«'4»of n go^ng— tmining phildron to do the devil* , 
 M>e devil's doom. We must stop „thS 
 
 
 work, and share 
 
 terrible destniction. We have done much to save thoin ; 
 but it is clear that 8f)metRing has been loft undone. What 
 is it ? I implore the attention of every Christian to this 
 solenm question. You say, " Have we not buill schools fior 
 them, and printed lK>oks, and prenched sermons, and delivered 
 lectiireM, and establishtd all sorts of nssfKjiations and organiza- 
 tions for their benefit ? '\ I answer, You have, v" Have we 
 not warned them against the ditngers to which they ard 
 exposed ? " You have ; and yet, though you have thus tried 
 to shield them on every side against the destroyer, it is clear 
 ■ y-\ that your defences have b^tn defective. There has been a 
 
 gap left somewhere, and thrortgh that gap the wolf has entered, 
 and out of that gap the poor lambs have been borne to 
 destruction. Where is that\gap ? You have warned tliem. 
 against the wiles of the devil, against bad books, and com- 
 panions ; you have told them to be true, and brave, and 
 boniest ; but you have not said- — " It is not good to obink 
 
 WINE, NOR ANYTHING WHEUKBY THY BROTHER STUMBLETH, OR 
 
 IS oi-FKNDED, OR 18 MADE WEAK." There has been an adder 
 lying on your hearthstone, which you have nursed and 
 cherished. God warned you of its sting, and told you that 
 its bite was fatal ; but, because you had never felt it, you 
 said i that it was harmless, called it a good creature of God, 
 M"ghed at those who warned yon, plnced it in your 
 children's hands ; and it has thrown its glossy coils around 
 
 if V 
 
 '_±[" 
 
./(A 
 
 w. 
 
 
 STOP THE GAPt 
 
 •4» 
 
 lliom, Arul piorwKl lluitii tlirongli with Horr<»w«. Do ^oti n«lc, 
 Whrtt iii to Ih*^ «l(iii,« ? Smvly your own n-iiHoii will nlvo tliu 
 
 iv|)Iy. Huuiov 
 y»m luivo Ikh' 
 evil corh|Hiii 
 ill (ulditioii 
 X«iT yj'iiN ruK 
 
 ^ 
 
 ;* 
 
 4 ' 
 
 c»HM (iiid the fffixU will ceuNu. Do uh 
 
 ill (ttluT res[it!<'iH. VVmii IJicin agtuiiHt 
 }t-op<)r liiHikN, (iikI low |(|H-siiits I^Hut, 
 fiiloiul to t'vi'ry oiif of thtMii 'mA)nK 
 
 niKN IT Irt IlKl), you AT LAHI' I^RlKTIl 
 LIKE A BKlll'KNT, ANI» HTINCKTIlilKK AN ApUBH." lA!t this l)« 
 iloiie ; l£lJi»a£JmHt make th e exptrimnU . Jjti nyory puri'iit^ 
 every iniiiiator, ovory (/'liriHtiuii, overy tfiioher, c<>a8« to ri'^urd 
 tliiM (Jiiiikii!) a liiiniiluHH luxury, to b(> UHH(>oit^f?(i with iiut^; 
 niid nlinoiidH, iuul HiniluH, and Joy ; and trout it uh u ducvivor 
 ntiil a »le.stroy«r, uiid I liulievu that llio gap will bo Btoppud^ 
 the diingor uvt-rted, and thu children Huvetl. " 
 
 I ujUHial to my hrethron in the ministry, to tho Christian 
 Church , to the noble hoHt of Subbuth-Hchool teauherH, and 
 to the fathers, and mothers, of this cOiiiitiy, for their syin- 
 putliy, ami help, in this great W()ik, Is not the danger 
 which thi'cntens our children gi aB lt'd iiuiiiiiient ? Wht-re 
 can we Hnd a family, in which tfrSlo drinkH are in common 
 Uise, whicli has escaped unscathed? Have not thousands, 
 whose morning was bright,f%nd promising, had their sky 
 darkened, and been liurWed into an early grave by this 
 evil ? l>o we not sed oit "^every hand Ikachels weeping for 
 the^ihildr^n strong drink has slain ? and <lo we not -hear 
 manyj.' a Jacob crying, "Me hath it bereaved of niy 
 children; Joseph is not, Simeon is not, and now Ik'njamin 
 is taken away " ? And shall we tolerate, and sjnile upon, 
 and defend, an enemy who does such work as thi^ ? Let us 
 also remember that this destruction is not finish^. That 
 the scene is not like a battlefield, where the aching heart 
 is relieved by the knowledge that the conflict is en^ed. No, 
 now,: Vf^HB I am speaking, strong drink is rioting, and 
 destroying, in our very midst, casting our sons to guin, and 
 *J'^«ggii^j^<*^»i"daughteri8 to shame. Drunkenness, like firo, K 
 ■ ■''...' Q -^^ w 
 
 11 
 
 ,-.:.* 
 
 .^ 
 
ig!^- 
 
 I I 
 
 1 t* 
 
 ^'.'i 
 
 
 I t 
 
 ii 
 
 ■v> 
 
 
 J I ' 
 
 'V 'I 
 
 '1 r 
 
 if! 
 
 
 243 
 
 SrOJ> THE GA^l 
 
 >\> 
 
 will quickly burn" itself out if ^ijiQt supplied with fresh fuel. 
 Th|sjve aUlyjpW.} and>Vthou^ irryiiadialjaxe gerished. 
 we see the fire is linearly as vǤitran^ terrible^' as ever. 
 Hence there n^ust be daily supplies provided, . and those 
 
 •^supplies aJ-e England's sons and di^ughters. Ay f yon4dr, 
 around the naouth of hell,,! see a tferrible sight; there ore 
 clustering myriads of immortal souls whom drink is hurryirfg 
 , J^ eternal woe. Ye% "there they^are, Bien, arid woiiien, hat- 
 lots, and burgtans— air brutal; blaspheming God. antl xjursi'ng 
 
 .. their own m\\k TKey crowd -t^ch other dp\«;n, sinking' 
 with .:ift hell within, to -^ darker iMl beyoftd ; and yet, 
 thoiirtrh they perish at the rat© oif at least ififty tlio^isand in a 
 y^ar, the supplies are continued j and |^se0 coming from our 
 English homes tliose who shall fill their place, an<^ H^^^ i" 
 
 , their steps. Still the jjublic-house is tilled ; 'still,ihough 
 
 ' tjje harlot lives but thtee" years after entering on her course 
 
 of siri,ithere is no decrease fn the number of that unhappy 
 
 band. Still the prison js crowded, the niadliouse tenanted, 
 
 ^ and the rope of the gallows swings. On every breeze I hear 
 the lioarse voice of the destroyer crying in his d(^B)oniag' 
 tliirst for souls:. "Wanted, wanted," wanted." Fatliers^ 
 mothers, teachers, pastors, listen to 'thar^ry. , Wanted-! 
 Wanted what^? Our gold and silver | Our wealth md 
 power? ^^o ; "these he rejects with scorn, for the rielies of 
 the- world, and the glory -of them aits 'already his ! [But , 
 Wanted, our sons and -daughters, to fill the place- of the fifty 
 
 - th^sand drunkardawho are noshing this year over the^dark 
 precipice of min. Wanted! ten tliousaud fair girls, to fill 
 the place gf those now dyi^g in misery; and siianle. 
 Wanted : twice ten thousand of your bri^tth^yed boys, to 
 supply ilyB madhouse, and the gaol! Wanted if . ay, and 
 mind you, unless we at once avise,.and stab^'betjv^een them 
 aiid ruin, they Will be Vl'l listen, fathers, mothers, 
 friends, ta that dread cry : a cry ten tliousand times more 
 dofefui than* the olden cry, " luring out your dead." This 
 
* • -/■■v' 
 
 !«^< • . 
 
 STOP THE C:AP! 
 
 t%l 
 
 is not a demand for the dead, but for the living1*'T.o6k>t 
 the little band that clings around you. ^ See hoW they shrink 
 from the scene of terror, andcrvjo you, 0, mother, father, 
 teacher, friend, " We are ignoranlf we are weak. ' Lead us, 
 lead us not into temptation." And will you ? Teachers, I 
 appeal to you; because you have proved your love to the 
 little ones by making many sacrifices already. Parents, I 
 appeal to you ; because your hearts are bound up with these 
 children's welfare. Christians, I appeal toyou ; because Jike 
 your great Master, you must love little children. Do ndt 
 listen to the attempt of the destroyer to lull- you into indif- 
 ference. There w danger. There is danger .of ymr children 
 l)ecoming the victims. They way escape, but ihcy may 'not ; 
 and the brighter the child, the greater , the danger. LOqk 
 into tlieir bright, and living eyes, and .tell ifie which of them 
 can you spare ? Think of the terrible meaning of the word 
 "drunkctrd," a word so dark that poverty, sickness, and in- 
 sanity are bright beside it'. And when you have looked at it 
 till you have arrived at a dim outline of its dread meaning, 
 ask, " Is a^ sacrifice too great for me iq make to preserve 
 my child froII^fch1's'? " Do you ask. What is to be done ? }. 
 answer, leb every father, every mother, every minister, 
 every (Christian, every teacher, every patriot stand up and 
 say, in tlie strength- of , God, "If I cannot take my glass 
 
 OF WIN?, OR glass OF ALB, WITHOUT ENDANGERING MY CUlL- 
 DRKN's safety, I WILL DRINK NO MORE WHILE THE VORLD 
 STAibETH." ., ' . * 
 
 Do I hear the objection rising, But.this is not commanded 
 in the Bible. I answer. Perhaps not positively, neither is 
 there any positive command to avoid opium, or poisoned 
 lozenges, or trashy novels, or theatres, or horse-racing ; and 
 yet you abstain from these, lleuif mber, that Where either"'- 
 of these has slain its thousands, drink has slain its tens of ^ 
 thousands. But, it may be said, the giving up of wine^ and . 
 ale, will enda,ngej Day health. I cmswer, We have the 
 
 „■;» 
 
f ■ t 
 
 •-» ; ■ 
 
 »44 
 
 STOP. THM GAP! 
 
 
 authority publicly given of two Ihousand of the most emi- 
 nent physiqians, tl^at, stropg drink, as a beverage, is entirely 
 unneoeslsary. And this conviction is rapidly spreading 
 aniofjg intelligent men. The Lamet, tlie leading, periodical 
 of the medical profession, in summing up the present opinion 
 of \ the medical world oijt this point, says, "Whereat the 
 question used to be between much alcohol, and little, the 
 qiiestion now is between a very little, and n(>p^ at all. 
 Tlfere is no medical man now, with a reputation to lose, 
 who would venture an apology for the habitual use of more 
 thaft a very little alcohol, aiid tliis in a very diluted form. 
 Physiology has shown that the sinallest quantity takes from 
 the strength of the muscles, from the ability to endure 
 extremes of temperature, froni the cleurness of the hi^ad, 
 and the activity of the mind J^^^nd this testimony is 
 -fully borne out by the experienc^^ lens of thousands in 
 this livnd,,and millions in others. Fof my own part, I ^lave 
 now tried it for thirty years, and am perfectly satisfied 
 ^piat I am better, in every respect, without it, than with 
 it. It^ is truej I have now and then^ to endure a' little- 
 raillery, and even inconvenierice; but I hav^ had the 
 pleastire of helping to make the drunkard's home happy, 
 and Ws heart holy ; and I believe that during that period,' 
 thouP iliy trumpet has never given an uncertain sound on 
 this question, that I h^ve never made an enemy, nor lost a 
 friend. But suppose it should be of some benefit, are we 
 not as Christians, ay, and as patriots, expected to inake 
 sacrifices for the good of others ? Do we not give pensions 
 and medals to those who risk their lives for their country's 
 good?^ Do we not give the highest honour to the young 
 missionary who hastens to some unhealthy land with tlil 
 message of salvation ? And is not drunkenness as bad as 
 heathenism? And are not souls in England, as, precious as 
 those in Sierra Leone ? Oh, let us go to the ctoss of Him 
 who. though He was rich, for our sakes became poor ; ^<^ 
 
 
STOP THE GAP! 
 
 *4S 
 
 not only suffered, but laid rdown His life for us ; nnd then, 
 having caugl.it His spirit, we sliall spurn every selfish 
 thought, and rJjoice in the opportunity of treading ih any 
 degree in His steps ! Let us, strengthened by the example 
 of our great Master, take the balance, and put into one 
 scale all the good that we ever imagined the drink to do, 
 and then put into the other scale the health, theflTonour, 
 the salvation, of our children, and we shall not hesitate a 
 moment as to the course to be pursued. The tempting 
 glass v^l at once be banished from our tables, and a Band 
 of Hope be found in every school. Let this be done, and a 
 marvellous change will soon spread across the land. Our 
 schools will be filled,, our churches and' chapels crowded. 
 The gap being stopped, and a complete defence thrown 
 around our young people, they will be saved from the 
 pestilential influences of those dens of iniquity which are 
 open for their ruin, and the destruction will be stayed. 
 " Then w?H our sons be as plants grown nip in their youth, 
 and our daughters "become corner-stones, polished after the 
 similitude ^yi. palace]" and our own dear land beco 
 indeed— r^ 
 
 •' Great, glorious, and free ; 
 Kmt flower of the laud, fi^t gem of the sea 1" 
 
 \ 
 
 
^ ) 
 
 V "l 
 
 « 
 
 '4i 
 
 ..^rt' 
 
 
 •»- - 
 
 v.. 
 
 xvi: 
 
 »' 
 
 OUJR NATTONAt DRlklC BILL FOR I884 
 WHAT WE HAVE FOR 
 
 AND 
 
 ^ 
 •^ 
 
 TITE v€ry->often hear our public speakers use the words, 
 *»' "This England of ours," and it is an expression to 
 which I am partial ; we have a right to use it with grateful 
 jDride. Eiigland (and by England I mean the *Jnited 
 Kingdom) is a* wonderful country. Geographical'^ it is 
 a merp speck in 4;he ocean, with a history reachi^ig back 
 only a few hundred j^ears, and yet it is the home of> liljerty, 
 ^cien6e, and religion, while it has an empire which is 
 almost boundless. We may well say- — 
 
 : , " 'TiiJ a glorious charter, deny it who cnn, 
 
 . That's found iii the words, Fm in Englishman.** ' 
 
 We have a right also to call this dear land " ours," for, 
 'by God's blessing, the English |)eopl'e have made it the 
 glorious land it is. Our privileges, have been won for us 
 by our fathers, and have not been given us by a conqueror. 
 They are our birthright, and are rendered doubly dear, by 
 the toil, and blood; with which ^th6y were boughtrs. 
 
 England is also " ours " betause it is not^the property of 
 monarchy, peers, or legislators, but x>t all the people. We 
 are-, units, not ciphers, and every. indiVldual exects an 
 influence iiponthe whole nation, for good, or evil. England 
 will evfer be, what her people shall make her. If we become 
 ^roud, selfish, an(J sensual, no power can presferve her from 
 
 ' An Address given in Manchester and elsewhere. 
 
 4f 
 
 "2W" 
 
 
 V'. 
 
 \ \ 
 
 vi 
 
,!\f' 
 
 vV 
 
 ■ PX 
 
 ■:*^<f. 
 
 
 OUR NATJONAL DRINK BILL WOR 1884. . ?47 
 
 niin ; wliile, on the other hand, if we a^e 6hf\eT, intellij^ent, 
 "anh godly, >(io power can previent her from . r^ing to a 
 position of dignity, and gtery, fur supjjrior ^^»af which slie 
 now occupies. This is a question not leil with the few, 
 but the many. It is to be determined not by {)arliainents 
 and coiirts, bu& by the people ; and I. want to ini press upon 
 your n)in4s the s^tenin fact, that everyone of us is every 
 hour, of every duyj affecting our native land either for weal 
 
 Sr 'Woe. -T-r- -—^^T ---~-----^^:~~-~~^--~^-^--~--^ --,- -^------,-.-;.^-,-_ — ■— ,- 
 
 It follows frohi what I have said that, all of- us should 
 know something of what is called political economy, and 
 should ^deavourlo ascertain the sources of our national 
 strength, and the .causes of our national weakness. Our 
 own intf rests, and the interests of our children, are so 
 ||K)Und up .with those of our coutitry, that selfishness as 
 well as pjitriotism should lead each of us to do our utmost 
 to leave Jt the better for our . having been in it.* Nothing 
 can be ""jnoifi. ..foolish _tlian to_say, "I'll mind my owii' 
 business, aud l(^ve the affairs of the nation to thos^who 
 choose to attend, to them." The affairs of the nation a gdjij^r 
 
 afflairs, as much. yours as anybody^ yild you Cannot neglect 
 
 ^vSP food be artificially 
 
 ^thetii w^^it dai)ger. IT the .price 
 rai8e3^;^uwiH have to pay a higher 
 
 price for *your loaf ; 
 
 ,i\. 
 
 there will be no exception inade in your favour, because you 
 didn't choose to -^^.y^^^^ duty. If trade be injured, your 
 -earnings will, be materially din^ished; and if our national, 
 wealth ^ be improperly expen<|||f^ and incyeased ltffe atiou 
 reiailts, we shaH all feel Hie effect. We are a gr'elfPamily, 
 we- have a common interest, and we are bound to jfeek 
 common jgood. Others havie laboured, and we have enti 
 intbvtheic labours. Our fathers have, by Go'd's blessing, 
 raised the ccfuntry from a state of barfiarism, ignorance, and*, 
 degradation, into one of, intelligence, freedom, and happi-.^^.^ 
 ness ; .and standing oi^ such vantage ground, we shall ill 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 deserve the name we bear, if we <^o not ,do - our iitmost to« 
 
 V.' ^' '' 
 
 
 r< 
 
 
 
 ■■:^-':- ■ ■ 
 
 
 
 
 ; . 1- 
 
 ■ " \ '■■,-■ 
 
 . 1 
 
 ^i■ 
 
'•^^^5^;^)>tjll^|Ce: before 'you. 
 
 l^npe, affVcting mi^^ery; iftferest, and 1 
 ^yli^jnes^t, intftlligteii^ttention. We may^ 
 
 „ '— ^^^"^ ^"*^^?"'^ views^ but you 
 
 '^flf^edit itk^ believing Whap arty.and for Imviiijf 
 no Dat^s in 'Order to Vei-ify; tl^Btateiuents wliich' I 
 
 {'. 
 
 w-/% 
 
 pe^^Ajlvject^^idh I am to brjn^- ifcr^ you is, 'fOur 
 J^atiorial I)n4 Jl^ir^^^^^ the yeai^^arMjPbat we have for 
 
 lii^.' ' 'f*^'" ^^^'^^^^^^Oi^^s.^I^ look «l.what 
 
 m ^;- r vrwf . as l^natiDr»i^d'^n stiong dtlnl^; ||| then to inWii 
 
 uire 
 
 *,* 
 
 :"18». 
 
 .'.rwhat a^th^if 
 
 : /^^^ % ^''*^i^ i^ tl>e jNomit^ expended Oh thiBse 
 
 [ ,p'^ ; i!.^"" "^ "'^tV W Hrsst ac me JiJnomut expended on these 
 ^ ;®i^ ."••♦- "''^•?*^ but that sOHMi^f my liearer^ will 
 
 I /•'k ' ' '^ star^li^ by^soinffeof the statements ij 1^1,^11 make in tliis 
 
 vtl ^^^ , *J^v'«'«n "<^ niy ^ubjkt, Wt tjley ^^^ l,dpfived ffom the ^ ' 
 
 ,_ ^^ ' , f t^etot^l- origin,^ or even a teatotal bias. 
 ' : • ^ I 1a M "^ see how much strong-di^ oUr peo^ have • 
 ^., ; A cc^nsumed during a year. And in oi- dMl& t you Vnay> have' « H^ ' 
 ^; V,. th^focts clearly and feirly before flK will take the' -« 
 
 ,.«VJiv«j/eg|tosumption for the l|iyJHlk, thus blowing : 
 
 fy^.tligJH Il it fliictuatiow causec"^^^^^ 
 
 as i^ooiWrbad, trade. . We have 
 
 to be the niost druiijcen nation m 
 
 ■Nvhj^therthe facts afford any grouiiS 
 Ihe Board of Trade Keturi&s s 
 
 • '.. '.■ 
 
 onal changes, suclLy ■ 
 bjlare^ by foreigners^ |j 
 
 yeai|y consumption, from 187Cto t#y was%- 
 
 gua. Let us, s6e ♦ 
 accusation. ' 
 iat the avenge , 
 
'.y ""■■■ 
 
 •A-'"- 
 
 V 
 
 OUR NAT^OSAL DRlJSfK BILL FOR ISSl 249 
 
 15,893,867 {j[allons of Foreign Wine, to sayiiotliing 
 
 of Uritish Wines ami Cider, 
 >8,520,807 gallons of Honiv ai»(l Foreign Spirits, 
 1,021,630,618 gallons of Ale and Beer; 
 
 being half a gallon of wine, inore than a gallon of spirits, 
 and nearly thirty gallons of ale and beer for every nuin,\ 
 woman, and child in the United Kingdom ; or, as it has 
 been declared by a statistical gentleman, enongh to fdl a 
 "canal three yards wide and two yards deep, from John o* 
 Groat's to the Land's End in Cornwall! 
 
 2. Let us look at the quajitity of grain consumed in the 
 production of this innnense quantity of li(pior. We ^con- 
 sumed last year 63 million bushels, or nearly 8 million 
 quarters (to say nothing of grapes and apples eniployed for 
 a similar t)urpb8e), and as each of us consumes for food 
 about r>^ bushels per year, this, would have been enough 
 to have fed 11 millions, or nearly one-ihird of our people, 
 jtjs considerably more than the whole corn produce of 
 "rScflmnd. This cjriiin *would have been enough to have 
 covereclta i^ad 1 yard deep and 4 yards wide, 540 nnles long. 
 It^ would liave made 1,200,000,000 four-pound loaves— 
 , gnough to have given 180 loaves to every family in the 
 Unite<:i^^ijingddm. And while we destroyed this immense 
 ijS'ft^iife^^^oru to produce drink, we had to go to 
 !i j§ il ^ l^tti^mj^ 5 miljiens' worth oC corn to feed our 
 -.; ,people^^f''?^' /'■''■ " ' •■■'■"■' 
 
 % ^ Look- at the 
 « < not ineludlUg tltat^nipioyett lig»»«^lj^ 
 
 ^^ willjlie fSuwd to be at^east 1,600,000 acre^, or as much 
 
 as tlfe whole of Bedf6rd^ii^\i5erk^hire,^^^K 
 
 and O.^fordslmeiktid hair a iniUion more than tha wl«)le oil 
 
 f jthe largie and bea^ifiil g^fenty of^^^ Imagine, 
 
 €n» that vast 'dil^qjijffveref Mib^^^gtvenvf^i^od 
 
 ■•> 
 
 uM^^regitired to produce all this corn, 
 ^raplo^ed|g»»|flp^ gardens; orchards, etc. 
 
 S us, for fogq -for man aiJ' 
 
 and taPiife, is it not a 
 
 V 
 
 ■.:\. 
 
 
 
 .■#*■-■■ 
 
aso Om NATIONAL DRJN^ BILL FOR 1884. 
 
 serious thing that, though we have not hread enough to 
 feed our peojdq, we should gather the produce of that vast 
 ciiMtrict, and, hy the aid of the uwlthouse and still, convtrt 
 it into what is nt the best but a dangerous luxury ? 
 
 4. "iippk at the houses employed - in this ^raflic.^ These 
 are about 180,0001 a number easily name^, but not so 
 easily comprehended. To enable you understand what that 
 ; number nieans, I may say that there are less tlian 110,000 
 houses in Manchester and Salford, and there are pnjy about 
 60,000 in the borough of Leeds. At^'the Inst census there 
 wore only 146,211 in the whole of the counties of Bedford. 
 Berks, Buckingham, Cambridge, Butland, and lleieford. It 
 is stated that the houses employed for the sale of strong 
 drink in London alone, if placed side by side and a frortagc 
 of 12 yards allowed to each, would reaclis^early 1,00 mil^s. * 
 And it is further said that if the whole t^f the pttblic-h«ns(5s 
 and beershops in the land were ^ put sida by side, anS the 
 jSame frontage allowed them, they woSS form a street 
 stretching from John o' Groat's to tand'-s End. These 
 houses, we must bear in mind, are not little cottaj^es in an 
 (»ut-ol'-the-way place, but large houses, in the very best 
 situations, in every city, town, and yillage of the land. 
 The corners of the streets, the centres of the marketplaces, 
 and the most desirable sites in the busiest thoroughfares 
 are all selected for the public-house, and ai the trade is so 
 profitable tliat publicans Can afford to pay Vrent which no 
 other tradesman can offer, competition is out\of the question. 
 5. Let us look at the amount of i^oney actually 
 ^xp^nded upon these drinks. What I j^yi*' said will, 
 to some extent, hav^e prepared you to expe|l4hat the bw^'M 
 will te veiy large- and, indeed, it is S|^ vast that the 
 niind^nnot grasp it. MiWl^orter; the eminent Vtatistician, ^, 
 ga^it as his opinion some years ago that our expenditure ' 
 per year could not be less than 60 milliona L)uring the 
 molt-^tax debate, Sir Fitzroy Kelly s tated that, aftet careful 
 
 fe' 
 
, « 
 
 b 
 
 J 
 
 OUX NATIONAL DRINK BILL FOR ISSl '5' 
 
 
 examination, he was aatisHod that we- 6|)e'ut, as a n&t'ion, 51). ' 
 .liiillions on malt liquors alOne. ' 
 
 Since then Mr. William Hoyle has carefully examined 
 the wliolecase by the light of tlieOovernment "returns, and 
 has shown that tlie average amount, speiit- during. the lost 
 ten years has been nearly 135 millions, or nearly £4, lUs. 
 for every man, vtroman, and cjiild in the kingdom,, and 
 nearly £20 for every family ! In order to make' you Ewe a , 
 little more distinctly the'vastness of this.sunj, I nuiy remind 
 you that the wimle amount of the property and income ta^f 
 last year was only £10,718^000 ; that^ our navy" only 
 cost £10,728,000 ; and our aniiy, inol'udii\^the militia, 
 volunteers, and ordnanctfr £15,910,000; troth ' to^je Uier 
 amounting to but a littje over £26,«^38,0O0, or iMB.Ufth 
 •of wliat we spent o»| drink!" Aftfl.the whol^ol, our 
 national expenditure, including the interejt on tjte National' 
 Debt, the army, ntivy, and civil service, only amounts to 
 £86,999,000, being 47 millioiuj less than our drink bill! 
 
 We have in this country over 1^8,668 miles of rail- 
 ways', the working expenses of which only amounted t6^ 
 £37,368,000. l*he whole 'of our cotton trade only 
 amounted to 90 millions, and all our iii^||^j-esunrces 
 o»ly yielded 88 inilliolns, while we speirrmRtik V^^5 
 millions, or enouglji to jiay the whole of the National Debt' 
 in five and a Wf years. And- to stamp the immensity of ^ 
 the sum u^on youf min^s.I may say that some patient and' 
 perservering gentleman has counted the 'cliaj)ters, verses, 
 words, and letters in the Bible, 'and given us the following 
 '.as the result I— There are, he says, in the Bible, 66- 
 books, 1189 chapters, 31,173 verses. 773,&^2 words. 
 Wd 3,567,180 letters. I have not tested the accuracy 
 of these tigures, but they have been Beceiy,ed as covrect by 
 pur" religious periodicals, and we may^ therefore actept them 
 without, Jipsitation;f*With the i»oney\^we spent on drink 
 last year we could pui ' *•* ' 
 
 '" % 
 
N.;^ 
 
 r 
 
 -4. 
 
 om M4TionaI mink bill %j^ mi 
 
 £ns,9¥F7 ■ •' 
 
 ^174 .. • 
 
 > 
 
 60 buokK 
 1189 chnptcrs. 
 31,173 verses. 
 *773,692 words. 
 •8,567,180 letters. 
 
 X38 
 
 Talk al,out the difficnlty of providing a con.plete system 6f 
 education for the eluldren of our k„d 1 We have but to 
 mhe our drink bill, or for one year to drink nine glasses. 
 >^ere now we drink ten, and we shall have n.ore than 
 
 V 
 
 % 
 
 **,, 
 
 . , -..» v«.., a,m „B s„m, „Qve more than 
 
 , .,e|.o.igh to meet our ivery want. Surely iMs is not towV. 
 luuch to ask Christian England to do ? , W ' T^ 
 
 «.^And, injmense as these sums appear, they are only a past '% 
 
 ^f% ' , *^"' °^ ^'"'^ "'^ equal-Tfmount is annually lost ^ 
 hy m accidents, itUeness. etc., occasfoned by their use. 
 VVhcn,,then>,we^ke in the whole case, we^Upve a bill 
 large enough tc».aj%l the n,08>. thoughtless; and we must 
 an seethat si^h a ^ni cannot.be expended without pro- 
 ducM.g«|„,n4^,.esults^re.sult8lii which we are all deeply • 
 inttfresteW «nd to these results 1 would now direct your 
 
 !"'^T?:tf«Sf r'''*'' r ^^^ %^ that money rightly 
 ^^^^f'^iost,ov ^npartiaf, lost-, When^.e good 
 ihouseWife 7?as expendedWlfusband's^ffrJ^^ sl.e does 
 
 not consider then. mst<0Siems sometkih? to show for 
 
 j(st(i 
 hev moneys It «bceir iiwested for tlfat which wTu 
 
 bcejr 
 
 "^ '^TT^^fi^'^' *''^^ th« advantage of herself 
 ^ ^^.or fan„l/ If sJ.e^.as bought that which adds to their 
 
 . happiness henllh. 6ondort, or intelligence, just in piopor- 
 
 ti(jn ^as these-ends are gained, her money has been well 
 
 . spent, Sl.e points to the con.fortable "old arm chaJr " or 
 
 . .to he weH- spread table, or to the warm topcoat, that 
 
 _^ emthles her husband to defy the rain, and the cold, or to 
 
 .■ the new dress in which her child goes to tl.^ siiud^iy school, 
 
 a.id whrch n.akes her. in her eyes ,.t leaslji pride of the 
 
 jehool she attends ; nnd even to the doll which her little 
 
 ■! :.. ■■ 
 
^' 
 
 . OC/^ NATIOI^L DkINK BILL FOR I884. 353 
 
 "? * 
 
 girl in (:|uariling with sucli. rnatcmul tMe, aa a fair ruturn for 
 
 the luonoy nhe has ux[>eii(liKl ; for it hot contributud to the 
 
 enjoyment nnd education of the family. f 
 
 And BQ it should Ihj with \\6 us a nation. The money 
 expended on ||jtton, on timt)or, on iron, on houHcs, Hhi|iH, 
 railways, pleuTOnj gardtMis, |)ictures, munic, books, clothoi*, 
 fiiod, and similar uses and pleasures is not lost. It is 
 money well invested, and we may look at the result willl 
 pleasure. Is it so with the m(Mu;y expcmled on stron*^ 
 drink ? Let us examine this iH>iiit. It is very ceitai 
 /that if this'Iarge sum had been spent on any other article/ of/' . 
 trade, wo should have had something to point to in which 
 we might well rejoice. Is it so here ? I will try and give 
 you a brief but honest reply. 
 
 TT I- Ho^has it affected the health of the people ? Fof 
 a long time the opinion prevailed that htrong diink was an 
 frticle of fo »d, and that it was indispensable for health ami 
 strength. That opinion, like nmny others that were vciy 
 old, has proved to be untrue, and is now exidoded. All 
 inteinigent men, who have honestly eiyuniued the subject, 
 have come tb an opposite opinion. ira|^ than 1200 of 
 the dite of our medical men luive t^^M^d a declaration 
 that these drinks are "unnecessary a^^Pm-verage, and that 
 those acctistomed to take them mav discontinue their use 
 with perfect safety, and that entire abstinence from them 
 would contribute to the health, prosperity, morality, and 
 happiness of the human family." 
 
 Dr, Markham, when editor of the British Medical Journal, 
 in summing up a discussion on alcohol, which had been 
 carried on in the columns of that jouwial, said, "We are in 
 conscience bound to say, that science has proved that 
 alcohol is not food, and tlwlt being simply a stimidant to 
 tlie nervous system, its use is hurtful to the body of a 
 healthy man" . 
 
 ~~ Dr. £dward Smith, in a work on diet, which has received 
 
•54 OVR NATIONAL DRtNK BILL FOR mi 
 
 the winction of the Quoen, says in that book that, as an 
 I article of diet, "it is utterly uselew.'* 
 
 ©r. 0. E. Monk sayii, that in 09 cases out of every 100, 
 where it is given as medicine, it is not only useless, but 
 actually injurious. 
 
 Dr. liichardson says, " I have failed in all by experi- 
 
 nients to discover the slightest good done to the body by 
 
 -the use of alcohol. It is unnatural, and always dangerous. 
 
 That its continued use leaves no part of the body uninjured." 
 
 Dr. Andrew Clark says, that a healthy person cannot be 
 benefited by the use of alcohol in ^ny degree— nay, that in 
 nine cases out of ten is injured by its use. 
 
 Sir W. Oull soys, alcohol deadens the nervous system, 
 and that oven moderation spoils the health, and spoils tlie 
 intellect. 
 
 Dr. K. Chambers says, " It seem? to do nothing but 
 harm. It is an arrester of nerve life, and is essentially a 
 Icssener of the power of the nervons system."-' In his 
 Harveian Oration before the Royal College of Physicians, 
 he says, "Our predecessors regarded alcohol as fuel to life's 
 flame : we find it to be a damper to that flame." 
 
 The Lancet, says that the controversy now is not between 
 ^ much alcohol, and litMe, but between little, and none. 
 
 These statements might be supported by a thousand 
 others from men occupying the front ranks in the aru)y of 
 science. i 
 
 - ■ ■ ■ . . '■ V , " ■ ' f 
 
 fill '"«■'*" ' " * ' 
 
 I here are many facts m daily life to prove their views 
 correct To one. or two, I venture to refer. The investiga> 
 lions, and experience, of the various Life Assurance Coiij- 
 panies show that the life of an abs&inet, other things being 
 equal, is more valuable than that of a ^rson who takes drink, 
 however moderately, fo well is this known, that several 
 •companies now keep a separate account for abstainers, in 
 order that they may^ Have the benefit of their abstinence. 
 
 i 
 
 wliil 
 
 e iu several 
 
 of the most important oflSces, a pabiican. 
 
 a 
 
 -•i^ .^- 
 
 *^ir 
 
■<i. 
 
 • 
 
 
 '. •%: 
 
 
 * 
 
 ■ 'X 
 
 
 
 ^V. 
 
 ,-T 
 
 .y- , 
 
 4 
 
 OUR NATIONAL DRINK BtU FOR 1881' 25$ 
 
 wouUl not baj^ecuivoil on any'Usrnia. This is the oii»m^ I 
 beliuvo, with tli^ Gomtrnl AHsumnoo Ottlco. WJion cool- 
 ht'iiiiod htisirifSH mun hhIc thuir nionity on iili^tuinMrH, iit a 
 lt)W(r ratu thiui non-nbHtuitiura, nnd though etigur fur buHinvst 
 rvfii'Ju to insure a piiblicAn'« lil'o at any pricM*. it in a powur* 
 ful iir^Miinuiit for total ab.itinonco. In proof that thtHr 
 dotiaion is well founded, the Kegistrar-OenurarB dlejiurt 
 ifiow* tliat 138 piblic«ti8 die to ©very IVO of 70 otlior 
 trades, and Dr. Edmunds sbowH that 30 publicans die 
 to every 16 of severM trades. This eboWE that wo are 
 not the onounos of tbo publicans when we tiy to deliver 
 tlioni from such a dangehjius business, — a busine* compared 
 to which, oven the occu])aiton of a coat miner id mfdij. If 
 we turn to the abstainers fioin these drinks, what do wu 
 find? Certninly that, as a body, they enjoy better health, 
 can do more work, and live longer lives, than Cbeir drinking 
 neij.'hbours, and friends. * , 
 
 Some time since the Morning Post, in an article bearing 
 on this subject, said with a sneer, that " Teetotalisin did very 
 well for amiable old gentlemen, but that it wouldn't do for 
 strong men; that we had no heroes among us, butc^-only 
 inferior characters! that the Volunteer moveinent hud 
 exploded the notion Chat a man could be as strong without 
 the use of drink as with it, or else the prizes ,that had been 
 off^jed w(j^rfia*^lmve been won by abstainers.'' To this we 
 might reAlyj^n^Vben abstainers have entered tlie force, 
 tJiey haveX^^^t least "equal to their companions. Anid 
 we all know that the Queen's Prize of £250 at Wimbledon 
 has been won on several occasions by abstainers. ''^^■'• 
 
 If, then, what I have said is true, that these drinks have, 
 done very little t|p str,engthen us, have they done n(>thing to 
 weaken, and destt(vy ? It is clear thiey have. I go fo the, 
 medical men, and they unite to declare that "a large .por- 
 tion of the disease. that exists, is produced by them." A3 
 
 ¥'.| 
 
 X 
 
 :Ml:. 
 
 f"' 
 
 J 
 
; '.' - 'i. -I 
 
 ^. 
 
 $S6 OUR NATIONAL DRINK BILL FOR 1881 
 
 .\ 
 
 JiJi-/' 
 
 •\- ■ 
 
 IL.Mi 
 
 numberiess. Every medical man knows that it is th* 
 cause, clirectly or indirectly, of the majority of the cases to 
 which they are called. Dr. M'Gliee, at the Social Science 
 Congress at Belfast, said he was bound to say that four, out 
 of every five cases of disease, was caused by strong drink. 
 
 Mr. Nelson, the eminent actuary, says that drink kilJs,^ 
 directly, and indirectly, six persons every hour, or 52,500 
 every year 1 Mr. Wakley, the late coroner for West 
 Middlesex, says that out of 1500 inquests held by him in 
 one year, at least 900 were caused by drink I 'while of 
 690 inquests held in Liveiitjool, oS9 \v^re,^hown to have 
 been directly, or indirectly, caused b/ t)ie feame agency! 
 Here, then, we have a scene enough to appal the most ^ 
 .stolid. Itiiagine that by some d|ead stroke of PrOvidencjfe 
 the 40,000 iiUiabitants of Cambridge, and* the 35,000 of 
 Oxford, and 'the 21,000 of Canterbury, -an'd tlie 13,000 of; 
 Cowes, and the 13,000 of Kendal were swept away, and 
 that not a, man, womaif, or child escaped, what a thrill of 
 horror would' run through tlie land ! and yet that would? be 
 less than the deaths caUsed by strong drink in Great 
 Britain last year! Dr. Norman Kerr >says, " A few years 
 ago iifinstituted an inquiry to expose the falsity of the state- 
 ment that 60,000 .flrunka'ixls died every year in the United 
 Kingdom. I had not long pursued iny iiiquiry before it 
 was made clear to me that there was very little exaggera- 
 tion in the statement, and at tlie- Social Sorence Congress I * 
 'was compelled to admit that- at least 120,000 annually lost' i*> 
 ^ their lives through alcoholic excess." While Dr. Richard- 
 son-says that his opinion t^ that nearly 200,000 lives are 
 .lost every year -throiigh the use of alcohol : that is^tlMit'- 
 there Jsa fjinifal causad hy drink mieri/ minttte during the ^ 
 jighi %ounqf imUj^ hurial/^rom eight '^Jdo^ori the, first 
 of January, H^ four q'clock on the it^y-l^i^lltf^^ptcmiher ! 
 Verily^ there are results from the Vs^fi|»^^ifcfti^J|f i ' ^ .- 
 2.^|iut some of our frifend^ m^|jS|irIf it jl&t pro- 
 - - ■ :;'^ ■> ■ «"^< 
 
 . ■,■■■■ : ■ ■ - „■ •■-■ 'k:-!' ■..; ':'■■'.?'■■ :; 
 
 '« .iHS-.'* *■■ 
 
 ». 
 
OUR J^ATIONAL DMINK BILL FOU,; 18S4. 257 
 
 hjoted our heattli as a nation^ has it not added to our 
 wealth ? Are we not the richer for our expenilituro ? U't> 
 us look at that, for with some it is the stronjj point in thoir 
 ohjections to tiie Tenipcrance movement. It is said, St'O 
 how many persona are employed. I admit there are 
 number of persons emphjyed in the various midtin«,'s an. 
 hrewerfes/but labour is our national ciipital, and ouglit to 
 be employed in inci-easing the. national wealth, the mere 
 employment4>f servants does not increase my income, but 
 
 diminishes it; for ^if they don't produce, they consume. 
 Taking a shilling out of one pocket and putting it into, 
 another does not increase its value. The question with. 
 
 -labour is how to employ it so as to have a, return for the • 
 nioiiey when it is gone. It has 4)een -well said by Mr. 
 
 "It is a common notion that a community cannot be 
 impoverished by an expenditure going on among themselves; 
 This vague and absurd fallacy is the same thing as saying 
 that waste is good for trade. Let us take' an illustratioii! 
 A sliip we will say,- has gone to the bottom of the Atlantid, 
 and as men have tp be efiij^oyed and wages paid in the 
 construction of another ship' to supply tlfe place of that ' 
 which was lost, the" vulgar idea is that the loss is little or 
 simply nothing. It is not talcen into account that those .' 
 who have to find tire rtjoney to btuld the' ship; have the 
 amount it may have east less > to . spend upon sonietin'ng 
 else. Somebody; is pooier to .the extent of the value of tlie 
 ship, and it is (^bvibus that no. individual .Kr)ss can be 4 
 public benefit. A fire or a shipwreak is so' -much loss, to „ 
 the whole community. We n)us£>take the',illustiv*;ion:ia. 
 little Tarther.' There is a wkle ' diflerence, for> exiiinple, 
 bet^Veen ^spendiIig twenty ihillings upon ' fir^wbi^s, and 
 spending that.ampyntaiponan*aiticle' (^perrna^fif 'utilily. 
 Ii| both cases, it is irue, an amou'ht of human labour and 
 skiIlhas.beeRex|tend6dlu^^^ the articles,. 
 
 -■■'v-. :' ■ y ';:-:':: *-^r^'' . Rf- : ' ,■■■-" ■ '■. 
 
 ■■' .'-■,'■.■ ' . -'.' "'■■■■ '.-- ■ . ■■//■'" V -"^ ■ ■ ■ ■* ■ - ■ ^". "■■" 
 
 .;■■■■.'■■ . »-■ . ■■...■./■ :.^--- ::■■-,-,: ■ .■'■ '::..:. -■; - . - ■ ■■ •■ .. ■ -^t^ ;.-,:.. 
 
 V > 
 
 H- 
 
:•«.. 
 
 I 
 
 358 OUR J^ATIONAL DRINK BILL FQ^ 1884.' 
 
 but in the oiie case the fruit of the lubour perishes with the 
 gratificfttion of a' moment; in the other tlie article Is an 
 addition to the substantial wealth of its possessor. This has 
 a direct applicHtion to the expenditure upon intoxicating 
 drinks, and we will contine ourselves* for the moment to the 
 mere expenditure, and lose sight of the ulterior conse- 
 quences ; for if they contribute nothing to hunlfin happi- 
 ness, nothini^ to tlje wealth of the State, it is s(f iriVch niouey 
 niisapptied, Bo much wealth wasted. This* ii just 
 unpyofitably spent as if expended upon fireworfs. It i& 
 not intended to condemn displays of fireworks a^)^casional 
 and holiday amusenients, but simply to correct the impres- 
 sion that such displays make the community^^y the 
 
 ;jicher.'' . .' .■ -^'' ., ■■ V ;■; >i\ '■■ r 
 
 Labour l^estowed upon other articles increases their value. 
 The shoemaker buys his leather Cwhich has .previuusly been 
 worked upon by the tapner) for four or five slMlliiigs, and 
 then adds his labourtj and the boots are wortlr' from twelve 
 to twent!y-five shillings; so with the builder, the tailor, the 
 watchmaker; everything that comes into thistr han^s is 
 increased in value l)y their labour, and thus they h^e. 
 repaid their country for their support, and tliat trade wMch 
 finds most room for labour is the best friend to the Working 
 man. Hence the dread which workmen havei of machines 
 doing their work. Now, follow the corn from the farmer 
 'to the person who has just taken a glass of ale. There has 
 been labour bestowed upon it certainly, but what has the 
 country in" return for that labour? You have a littk 
 stimulus and excitement, but as a nation we are not ♦bene- 
 fited. ^ Heiice.Adani Smith, the, great political economist, 
 says, " AH t'h6 labour expended ou producing strong driilk 
 is utterly .unproductive;'' it adds nothing ta the -WealtTi of 
 the community;" ) , - *« ,: r 
 
 And then, in its influence upofi other trades; thjs trade 4s 
 a tltorough Ishmael. 
 
 f4 'A 
 
 It is no iriend to th» labour mfirket 
 
 'I 
 
 0' 
 
 m i 
 
 
 X:,^ 
 
.. V 
 
 OUR NAUONAL drink BllL for I8B4. 255 
 
 ■* 
 
 in auy way. If you:go into a cotton or woollen mill, what 
 a quantity of machinery you find. You see at o|io« how it 
 befriends other trades. And ao yow will find it e-ij^rywhere, 
 except yon go into a malting or bi-ewery ; very kweir'niaciiin- 
 ery is needed there ; destnrction is generally easy work. It 
 has been computed that if you spend twenty shillings on any 
 other article, from six to eigliteen shillings go to the loorker, 
 but .that if you spend it on drink, only one shilling will go 
 to him. The following estimates have been supplied to me 
 by a gentleman well qualified to form a correct opinion on 
 the subject :— . ' • . - 
 
 — |f we 8i)end 20s. on shoeir^ 
 
 > f» 
 •f 
 
 tt 
 ti 
 n 
 It- 
 
 •> 
 ti 
 » 
 
 blankets ^ 
 
 tin utensils 
 
 broad clotli and woollens 
 
 ladies' drcbses 
 
 cutlery 
 
 books A 
 
 gentlemen's we^mg 
 
 strong drink ^ 
 
 the workmen gcftfis. 
 
 148. 
 
 »« 
 
 »r 
 
 If 
 
 •I 
 
 *» 
 
 »» 
 
 %t^ 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 148. 
 
 l.'is, 
 18s. 
 
 168. 
 158. 
 
 4d. to Od. 
 
 ig apparel 
 ,, strong drink f. . 
 
 ^ . -^ / 
 
 Thus, if you spend £6 a year |^ bdoks, elotheq, etc., you 
 > give employment to a ni^' forwfive weeks at 3s. a day ; " 
 -ivhile^ if you spend the ^«»e sum on drink -you have only 
 given, employment for one day at the same wages. 
 
 The /Sfco^mffl?»j|^Daper says that the Q^ledonian • Dis- 
 tillery, Edinbui|l||pia. oVfer £1,500,00,0 per annum, and 
 6nly employs 1 60>nien ; ai^lie satne ratio, our cotton trade 
 would employ qaly^OOO persons, whereas it does employ 
 482,903. " ' *' 
 
 The late Ernest Jonfts ^ftid that trades, nnians. are neces- 
 _jary to protect the working men against the influTt oi\ 
 labourers fi-om the (igricnlfeural districts. Let us expenci quf ' 
 national'income npo» legitimate, articles of trade, an4 th^y 
 Oftn ftlj be employed-^aj^ and Converted into good cus- 
 toi®rs, ablfe to buy clothes and furniture, which they can't 
 do now,-*-'" . . -i. \ ' 
 
 "a 
 
 V 
 
 :V 
 
 •*. 
 
 ,('■• 
 
' R 
 
 '^P- 
 
 
 fr(' 
 
 '^ 
 
 '•V><. 
 
 I 
 
 I'-l 
 
 ■'I I 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 'i\ 
 
 : Jffo' (?2^;« -AT^ TION:aI J^HINIC mil FOR 1884. 
 
 If the money spont on drink onoploy? in its manufacture 
 ' 72,000 persoijs, th? same amount spent on' other artroloa 
 ' -"would employ two niHIiona 'and a liQlf, giving tijach ,20s. 
 p^t week wages, oi*inore th«n- all the m?ile~'Vi^orkiri«5' jxipula- 
 tfen of Manchester^ Liveipool,^ Glasgow, Binninghaui, 
 Sheffield, l^rad ford, and Leeds put together! You would 
 "llui,^ raise the Vahie. of labour irtiniens^fy. 
 
 Talk, then, about emigration 1 ' theye is rib neeeqsity for it 
 ♦.^n whatex'er. Let us cease to consume the corn God sends us 
 for fo^» in the prodirction of stron'^g drink, and no longei 
 spend our money on that which,. I repeat, is at the best but 
 fl^'thmgerotls "luxury, and we shall have plenty of eniploy- 
 • ment for all our people for the next thousand years, and at 
 a rate of Wfliyes far higher than that with" which we art' now 
 content ; while, at the same time, our manufactureis will 
 have a home market, winch all their machinery will not 
 enable them to supply. . \\ 
 
 - 3. Has it added to the intelligence of the people'? For 
 if that has been the result it has not been wasted. Alas I 
 liere, as in the other respects I have named; we are 
 MMthiitg better, but much the wor«e," for this expenditure. 
 Pirst.of all, it- has put thousands of our people" be} ond 
 the possibility of being educated. It has plunged them into 
 the midnight darkness of insanity. It is notoriously one of 
 the great predisposing causes to this terrible evil. • Dr, 
 Jlowe says, that out of 300 jdiots, whose htstories coiald be 
 traced, 145 were the children of drunken parents. Dr. 
 Ellis "paid, before a Parliamentary Committee, of 28 cases' 
 . admitted into the Middlesex Asylum in one year, 19 were 
 ' caused by drink. ' 
 
 Mr. Poynder, the clerk of the Bethleliem Asylum says, 
 
 ," At least-half of the cases that came here arase from drink ;*^ 
 
 while, Iiord Shaftesbury said, in the Manchester Town llalL 
 
 "After 'acting as a Cf/mmissioner in .Lunacy- for the last 
 
 . twtiuty years, and as clmitmau of that Commission sixteen 
 
 V 
 
 
 -h 
 
•m 
 
 "> 'ft 
 
 ) 
 
 V 
 
 
 9i " 
 
 ■t.tv ■ 
 
 
 OCZ^ NATIONAI^ DRINK BILL FOR 188.'^. > 261 , 
 
 years, aud having made cayeful inquiries bot(i hefe ami in 
 Aniericu, I au'j fully safeisfi^d that fully six tfenths of uU the 
 cases of insanity found in these realms i^rise from no otlior 
 cause but intemperance"." ' 'V ., 
 
 Then there is the case of. those who have the capability 
 for education, and iivho yet remain untaught. The 
 10,000,000 of children in the counl^ry, giv6n to us by God 
 to be our national stren^jth and glory, but'who have become 
 our uationajl weakiKiss and disgrace. Why were they not - 
 found in the schools till the State interfered^and* made edu- 
 cation cQLQpuIsory ? Not because ther&,%l!re uo schools to 
 receive tftem ; not because of the high price of educatiori ; 
 but because, in the lirst place, a workijug ^nian spending 
 from £10 to iJ15/a year «t drink will have hard work ta 
 lind food for his faniily'witn" the rest of his incbn'je ; and 
 next, as Mr. QoscUen said the other' day at Halifax, and as 
 ourvManchesier Educational Aid Society lias abundantly 
 shown, the effect of the dHnk is so to dt^grade the mAil 
 tastesv4nd perceptions, and so to steel the heart, that the f^ 
 education of th^, children is sacrificed to the sensual appe- ■ * 
 tites of the imreuts. Tiiia is seen- in ihe fact \\n\t nearly * 
 2 2,0 OB children are in reformatories and industrial schools, 
 and tliat' there were 97,274 pi osecutions last year under the 
 Education Act. '^I question if one, of tliese was against an ' • 
 abstainer. These are, as 1^ «fle, specially anxious for tlieir 
 children to.have the benefit of education. How the drink' 
 hinders education was wull shown by Mr. Mundella in a - 
 speecli at *Siiellield in 1873. He say*s," There is a block < 
 -p\. houses containing J.082 faniilies, aud 2153 childrou of 
 schoolv^age." There ace three schools in the block, tm>^x;; 
 churches, three chapels, and forty-one public-houses. That 
 means that evVry twenty-live of "these '\vretehe«|l familioa "; \ 
 1 iive one puWic-house; aud when you, renjember what it. -, 
 cQ^ts to sifjiporta ^ublic-honse, you wiir'haviSygouie'idea of 
 the cause of ^tfisei% of Uie population/' »" 
 
 
 "* 
 
 , w'v- 
 
 ';'t' 
 
 ■/ir- '■' 
 
 .',» (." 
 
 ff'. 
 
 .A'V- 
 
. % 
 
 $$» OVR HATIONJkL DRINK BILL FOR JifW' 
 
 . ,4.- Hclw has, tii« mpney affected our national morality ? 
 
 pfor if that if promot<3d the. money has not been lost. The 
 
 ^ money spent on the moral elevation of the people is always 
 -well speni. The Anjericans, wherev^ they found a villnj^e 
 or' town, always begin with a cM\to and a schoolhouso^ 
 and^ as al inatter of political economy^ th^y act wisely. 
 True religiton ■always gives a people more tn|p she gets. 
 
 In the first place, it has Ijurdened ^u«»%rjth many thou- 
 sands pf parupers ; of tins there car^e no doubt. Mr. Mott, 
 before the Poor Law CommissioMersj said, "I have made 
 
 : pauperisni ihy special study, and after careful examination I 
 am convinced that nine-tenths of the cases are caused 
 directly or indirectly by strong driiik." Mr. C. Buxton, the 
 eminent brewer, says that " but for intoxication, pauperism" 
 
 ^ would be nearly extinguished in England." pi*. Chalmers 
 says, "The public-house Js the most abundant cause of - 
 
 ^uperisni injScotland.^' While as to Ireland, that Cinder- 
 ella^ tin's sisterhood of nations, whose good we ought all ' 
 tO" seeki ii^wliose sorrows w« all ought to sympathize, and 
 for whose weliarfr^w^all ought to pray, strong drink is one 
 , of the most fruitful soiiree|[^of lipr abject poverty. Poor as 
 she is, she sjbent last year over £11,000,000 on strong 
 drink, being fUne tifnes as much as was , spent on the relief 
 of her poor, and ty en ty times ?^s much as she spent on- the 
 primary education of her children. So that the Irish people 
 imvebut tp'taM- the cry " No drink," instead of *' No rent," 
 iit oi-der, to SecUr^ affluence and prosperity, ^^; ". 
 
 - Not onlyllasUur drink-nwmey resulted in a large increaae 
 
 ' in pau^»erism, biit it is almost the parent of our immense 
 army of criminlals, Tiie Government returns Show that 
 
 ' thera were 273,0^0 persons com niitted to pjison last year, 
 
 and as but a small proportion of the criminal population are 
 
 in detention at the same time, thiis will m ve us a Startling view 
 
 of the amount of criminality by which we are surrouniler]/ 
 
 *Do w'elask how, in the face of all the. purifying and elevat- 
 
 *» 
 
t ' I ■ 
 
 v/. 
 
 
 ■f- X. -v 
 
 
 -.^A^ 
 
 OUJi NATIONAL DRINK BILL FOR 18S4^. 3^3 
 
 - :■ ..^■V^v.^^•■:■-"■/i:■'■^.:;//^•■■ .,■■■••.. \\-.. ,.:". 
 
 ing influences which are at work amongst U8, such a sti^te of 
 things can be ? The unanimous answer of those be^t quali- 
 fied to form iin opinion on the subjeit is, tliat the great 
 cause is strong chink. No one can spt^k more aiithoritu- 
 tiyely or impartially on this subject th(\n the judgi-s, and, 
 there is a sod monotony in their testimoiVy. Jiid-'e BoviU 
 said, " Nine-tenths of tl\^e cases that haveVcome beloie me 
 have been caused by strong drink." Justice LuhIi, at the 
 Manchester Assizes, said, "The^drink ngnin^J It is so with 
 almost every case that comeS" before me.V Mr, Justice 
 Grove saidi " Men go into the public-house respe<;table, 
 and come out felons." Baron Dowse said ^je found that 
 drink was ftt the bottom of ml most every crime conim itted 
 in Dublin. Lord Chief- Justice Coleridge said\ that Judges 
 were w^ary with calling attention to drink as the principal 
 cause of crime, but he could not refrain from saving that if 
 they could make Slngland sober they would sliut up nine- 
 tenths of the prisons. While the rest of the ju^i^ges have 
 again and again endorsed the declaration of Judge 'Patterson 
 at Norwich, who, addressing the grand jury, said, "But for 
 this drink you and I should have nothing to do." \ 
 
 The Licensed Victuallers of Birmingham, in a memorial 
 to the Gdvernment, say," It is abundantly proved that vice 
 and drunkenness are in proportion to the number of public- 
 houses !" r . ^ 
 •And Mr. G. Buxton, M, P., declares that "drink is -the 
 
 > parent of crime, and that it is not too much to say that if 
 all drinking of fermented liquors could be done away with, 
 
 • crime of every kind would fall to a fourth of its present, 
 amcnnt, n:nd^ the whole tone of moral feeling aniong th»~ 
 working-classes would be indeifinitely raised." 
 
 Mr. Chamberlain says, "If I had nn enchifiriter's wainl" 
 and cCuld destroy^ to-morrow the desire for strong drink in 
 the- people of England, whut changes we should see ! We 
 should sqe our taxation reduced by millions sterling a year ; 
 
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 •■•■f»;*vV 
 
 
 #64 OUR l^ATIONAL DRINK BILL FOk 188L 
 
 ■ I. , . ■ « ^ ■ . 
 
 wo should see oiir^aStmtMl. workhouses empty ; we should 
 
 see more lives saved in twelve months than are consumed 
 
 in a century of bitter savage war. W^fitiould transfigure 
 
 and trunsfbrni the face of the whole dountry." ' 
 
 Mr. Gladstone says. 'It has been said that greater 
 
 calamities are inflicted on mankind by intempemiice than 
 
 by the three great historical scourges— war, pestilence, and 
 
 r l_famine. This is tru^ for us, and it ia the iMeasuro of our 
 
 ^•^7^ iscred it and. disgrace." • /' 
 
 
 
 ty V»« >- 
 
 
 liho Times says that "strong drink produces more idle- 
 [ness, crimp, disease, want, and misery tl^n all other causes 
 1 put together;" wHile i\\& Daily Tdcffrapfi says, " The entire 
 Itrade is a covenant with si h'^and death." 
 
 I might add to these a host of other witnesses all 
 supporting their testimony, but I refrain'. I have shown 
 you that our year's Drink Bill is ah^ii|iniense one, and that 
 instead of producing health, :intelligc^ice, virtue, and happi- 
 ness, it has produced' igHomnee, madness, misery, dime," 
 and duatli. That, as the reSult of our year's expenditure, 
 we have had tradp crippled, our >orkliouseS crowded, and 
 the morals, intelligence, and health of > the people seriously 
 injured. That during the past year drink has plunged 
 .thousands of f^miires into misery, tuited thousands d^f 
 ^ peojile on tlie parish for others to support ; ooUA-erteil 
 ^thousands or our people into c;i;i^inal9; and Jnirried at!' 
 ^Jeast-80,000 of our iellow-cpun%men into a drunkard'a. 
 ^giuye aiid a drunkard'a eternity/ And, alas! this destrucf 
 ^tion is/not stayed. As I speak, hope is- dying out of tlie 
 hearth of thousands of the. fathers, motli^>'sr-«dves, and 
 sisters of Qrt^at Ih-itain, and a wail is heafcC" lI(jw\long, 0. 
 ~£>d,how long?" /To tins sad cry the Christian/Church 
 iowWgive an encouraging answer; Sfio has but to catch 
 the spirit and jmitute the example of her l)ivtne Master, 
 who gave up even the glory of heaven to save her fromi 
 sorrow and death, and a u^w era. would begin. 
 
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 OC/H NATIONAL DRJNICBILL FOR 1884. ^65 
 
 When 60,000 of qiir cji,ttl<j /were i^mittcu down, a day of 
 fasting, humiliation, and pniyor wa8*a[)pointt'd, and jnonarch, 
 piiests, and peojile besought tho removal of the stroUc. 
 -yero ia a calamity Jafinitely moro terrible, and yet priest 
 and Lovito have ■ regarded it with a heedless oyo. Tbo r 
 Christian Church has been occupied with forms and 
 ceremonies, jots and tittles, instead of staniiiug with tear- 
 filled eyes, aiid a breaking heart, between the living and 
 the dead, that the plague may be, stayed) Thftnk God, 
 her eyes are opening, and multitude^ from all the Churches , 
 are coming "to tho help of the Lord, to the help of tho> 
 Lord agaiiist*- tl'ie mighty!" ' Let the jrost follow their 
 example, and tliis work of the d^vil will b|5 d^'stroycd. 
 
 Am t asked for a. ix'.m^dy for this immense and terriblo* 
 evil ? I answer, " jRi^jjwi-e the came and the''i.ffi'ct will cease.'* 
 This is the remedy; aim ^ttpre is no.other.^ Every other 
 remedy has been tried aHthas failed. We must either 
 give up tlie drink, or.' go ojiui sin and sorrow. We are, as 
 . iv nation, sh^t up to abstniencc or intemperanqe. Our otdy 
 remedy is total abstinence for the individual and prohibi- 
 tion for the State. It is clear to all that we cannot hav^ 
 the drink trattic amongsl'-us, and at the same time boj a " 
 sober\country. For huMdj8||!is of years our wisest and best 
 > men have, been tryiiig to ^ure this, but hive tried in v^iin. 
 Our legislators/have spent more time ui)on this tvn,de than 
 upon all the others put tc^ther. ^^^ey^llaye pasned law? 
 .as td the strengtli of the orfii'k that fehould be sold, as to 
 .the character of the^ persons that should sell 1t, as to tho 
 l^ouses in which it sliould be sqld, as to the very letters -r 
 that should announce its sale.'-' And after till their efforts,' 
 like the woman iujB|fcffiospel97 "It is nothing better, hut. 
 rather worse." "'BBk". should we allo\y. our legisliUors , , 
 to Waste their time \^pHfcy''''U attenlpt to make a curse a 
 blessing ? Humanitj^ liKjo preciousV for useless ex peri- , 
 rtieiits.' We cannot ^andR^m and setf God insulted, our' 
 
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 >66 OVX KATWNAL DSJMK BILL fOH mi. 
 
 country (Jinlionoured, our homes desolntwl, and our aonn and 
 dftughters destroyo^. The new Hetprm Hill has given ut ^ 
 the power to deal with the evil. Let \ih use that power, 
 The drink sellers have avowed their detenninution to know 
 no political party, hiil to vote in the intei-cnt of their trade, 
 that their rallying cry shall ho " Self-protection." Lot us 
 follow their) example, and may God defend the right I 
 
 I appeal especially to the new electots, Tlio laws of the 
 country will henceforth, to a lar^^d extent, ho what you 
 nmke them. Yon Imve the power to rescue the Snhhnth 
 day from the grasp of the publican, and to say, " We will 
 noJIiib^he Sabbath broken by Act of Parlinment." Nay 
 fm have the power \to say whether the drink cin»9 
 mtinjjio to be a "nftliQURl institution or not. Vou 
 ciTfrs|||ve your country frorii tliia gigantic curse.^. Its con- 
 tinuance, or destruction, is in your hamls. The responsi- 
 bility for its existence will ho^)|eforth rest on you. , Koalizo, 
 
 ■therefore, the power you po^ss, and act accordingly. 
 Resolve at all co^t^ thot you will have a sober hviid. Let us 
 go to?, the polling Upoth, iiot to vote for a party, but for 
 God, and for our ^hxlry, and our luuio, Let us rise to 
 the sToleinnity.of tlw occasion, and seeing the immensity of 
 the interests involved, resolve that, fts a people, we will no 
 longer tamper with, or sanction, or shelter, the direst enemy 
 that ever assailed the human family. The stumbling-block 
 being removed, the gospel will have free course, and bo 
 gloritied The wildernipss will soon blossom as therostf; 
 
 .hope will take the place of despair ; want, and poverty, and: 
 ignorance, and crime will flee as clouds before tlie noonday ' 
 sun, and England,, dew ohl.Englaud/ be indeed a sober, a 
 happy, and a Christian laud. . * • * 
 
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 ■ ■XVIIL ;■■■■ 
 r/T";? liEiATioxf^mp ir riiE mi^DAT scnooi 
 
 TO TILE MAND OF llOM} 
 
 TITE Executive of the Sundny -School tJnion hhn fnvitetl 
 1110 to brin{^ tho subject of Tenipomnco boloru this 
 Convention, and, tbon^^di overworked, I could not refuse thu 
 invitution. My dilliculty has been bow best to bring it 
 before you 8o as to ensure practical nnd pernument results. 
 Knowing, as I rejoice to do, that the majority of the 
 Sunday-school tejtchcrs in this land are abstainers, and that 
 tho rest are rapidly coming to the same docision, I felt that 
 it was scarcely necessary for me to speak to the indfvidual. 
 I therefore determined to say a few words about tliat which 
 seema to me to be the next question in importance, that is, 
 the relationship of the Sunday-school organization to the 
 Band of Hope. I do this the iiiore readily because I belong 
 to both, and am anxious for the prosperity of each. I 
 became a SundayTSchool teacher when in my teens, and 
 believe it to/be the imost important organization connected 
 with the Christian \Ghurcli. I also became an abstainer 
 about th^ same time, and after forty years' experiencej I 
 rejoice to testify that it has been a blessing to me beyond 
 all price... ^ ■ / •.; ■.;. ' "i 
 
 W/iot, then, is the relationship that shoiild exist between 
 the^'^imday scIiooIk and the Band of Hope ? Shall they be 
 
 An Addrpss i^iven at i\ine«tiDg of thu Suiiilay-School Uuion hold in th* 
 
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 268 RELATIONSHIP OF XI^. SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
 antagonistic, or neUtral, or Amalgamated ? This is a qu(*s- 
 tion of immense jipportance, for* they are' two mighty and 
 iufluontial organizations. I suppose" I shall not be far 
 wrong if I say that the Sunday school has five niillion 
 scholars, with 700,000 teachers ; while there are 10,000 
 IJands of Hope, with twovmillipn members. Every one 
 will see that the relationship ,/)f these great organizations 
 is a matter in which not only every Christian, but every 
 patriot, is deeply interested. Their antagonism would be 
 an immense qalamity. Their neutrality would be an 
 fijjury .to both; while their amalgamation would benefit 
 each, and make them an imrj^nse blessing" to both the • 
 Church and the vyorld. Believing tliis, I au) most anxious 
 that every Sunday-school teacher should believe it also. 
 I want, therefore, to give' a few reasons for my belief, and 
 I pray you look at them without prejudice, and in, the fear 
 of God, * ■ 
 
 For what object does tile Sunday school exist ? Not 
 merely to keep childi^n out ^of mischief, and to give 
 employment to teachers who can find no other way of 
 spending the Sunday. Not that ' we may have great 
 organizations, and large collections,^nd agreeable" tea meet-r 
 ings, but that we may gather, U>e 5^ung people. around us, 
 and, by God's blessing, make them good citizens, and devout, 
 intelligent, and earnest Christians. This is , the object that 
 every right-minded teacher sets before Jiim", and for this he 
 lives, and labours, and prays. Whatever is accomplished, if 
 this is not done, the school is a failure ;%nd SSvhatever is 
 not done, if this is accomplished, the school is a success. 
 Thank God, in innumerable cases this has been accom- 
 plished, and the devoted teacher has been able to say with 
 holy joy, as he has looked at many on earth, and others in 
 heaven "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? 
 Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at 
 His coming ? For ye- areour glory and our joy." But what 
 
 <^- 
 
 ? 1 
 
tlN ■■ 
 
 TO THE BAND OF HOPE. 
 
 m$ 
 
 of many others? Alas 1 their history may be written in 
 tenvs and blood. Let ^ftny teacher examine the register of 
 his' school twenty or thirty years ago, unci then carefnll>y 
 inqnire after the liii^oTy of the names recorded there, and if 
 . he writes the recoraT, it will be like the prophet's roll written 
 Within and without with mourning, lamentation, and woe. 
 Some will be found to be " WQilking in the counsel of the 
 ungodly," others "standing in the way of sinners," others 
 "sitting ia Jhe seat of the scornCT," some in the liettin;^- 
 ring, some outcasts, some in prison, souie transported, and 
 some gone to an early and unhonoured grave. In their case 
 the teacher has laboured in vain, and has spent his strength 
 for naught. If he is a wise man, will he not endeavour, to , 
 : ascertain the cause of this destruction \ And if a sensible, 
 \right'hearted teacher, will he not be prepared for any sacri- 
 /fice and toil if, by God's grace, he may preserve the^ children §; 
 still' in the school from falling victims to the same ^ 
 destroyer ? If so, I think there will be no hesitation as to 
 the decision of this meeting, and of the teachers whom you 
 represent.; I know there are n^r evil affenqies in opera- 
 tit>n to promote tills destructi^S»»t th*j|p%iu a host of 
 witnesses to testify that the /|iant evil is strong drhik. 
 This assists and intensifies all the other agencies, and at the 
 ' same time exerts aninfluence peculiarly its own. I will not 
 quote instances, for they are innurnerable. I should insult 
 you if I were thus to hint that you doubted that which is 
 patent to 'all. The great question for you is, Will the 
 incorporation of total abstinence with the Sunday school 
 lessen this destruction, and make it more efficient for its 
 
 great work? , . 
 
 ' As to children taking intoxicating drinks, the medical 
 world unites in testifying that for young people, at least, 
 t|iey are not only unnecessary, but absolutely injurious. 
 That, as Sir William Gull says, "They spoil their health, 
 and injure their intellect," and it is also equally certain that 
 
't^- 
 
 ijo ■ RELATIONSUIP OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
 it ia fearfully injurious to their moral nntifre. Years ago an 
 aged aiMi eminent man reniarkod : " If tliere is a particle of 
 dupravity in a man's heart a glass of brandy will find it out 
 and stir it up." And what is true of brandy is true of 
 frlcphol in every shape. From the time of Noah till this 
 'day its effects have shown that it has an affinity for the 
 worst part of our nautre. Hence we cannot be too careful 
 in guarding young people against it, and as Sunday-school 
 teachers are especially devoted to the instruction and 
 
 'training' of -young people, the Band of Hope movement has 
 a special claim upon their sympathy and co-operation. 
 Leaving, therefore, the question of the danger of children 
 taking intoxicating drink, I want to show yott the great 
 advantage which will result from the Sunday school and 
 
 ^. Band of Hop6 being incorporated^ — from the Band of Hope 
 -being not a mere accidentardli|Bdage, depenjling for its- 
 Very existence upon* some oil^||Blde of the sphool, but its 
 becoming an integral part q|^' tlie Sund.iy-schbol organiza^ 
 tion, as completely so as the missionary society or libriiry. 
 
 EEjSULts OF THE Union. 
 
 Let me nanae a few results of this "union. First, it will 
 be an immense benefit to the Band of Hope movement. 
 This niovem^iit has made wonderful progress in spite of the 
 apathy of some and the hostility of others. In many cases 
 the Band of Hope has existed outside the school, and too 
 often outside the Church, It has been an orphan, unc^red 
 for and untrained. The natural result of this has been that 
 it has sometimes said and done things that it never would 
 have said and done if it had been more kindly/ireated. 
 This, however, has been its misfortune rather thai^ its fault. 
 With all its defects aind faults it is a fine healthy child, and 
 if the Sunday school will but adopt it, and give it its place 
 amonj* the children, iti faults will soon be cured, ana its 
 
TO THE BAND OF HOT^ 
 
 37» 
 
 defects remedied ; placed fn. such, tt beautiful home, its 
 ' strength will be fully developed, it will tlirow its prok'cting 
 ,ar;D around the children, and our country soon become as 
 . sober as she is free. 
 
 Look also at the many benefits which this union will 
 confer on the Sunday' schools. These seem to me to be so 
 niaiiy and so great that I can barely name a few of them. 
 First, it will infuse new vigour into the work of the school. "■ 
 Without this there is necessarily a great deal that is mono- 
 tonous, a great deal that "taxes tlie patience qf the children, 
 "and /great deal that is confined t« the Sunday. Now we 
 aU know that children are naturally active. They must be 
 doing, a.nd if they haven't something good to do they wtll 
 be^jjoing evil. The cliildren s poet says that " Sataii finds 
 some mischief still for idle hands to do." With all respect 
 to the writer, I think Satan might spare his pains, for the 
 children will find it for themselves. It is, therefore, our 
 wisdom ^-keep them from the temptation, and employ them 
 in sometliing useful and good. This is no ,ea§y task, for 
 they g«t through their work so rapidly that they will tax all 
 bur ingenuity to keep theiii employed. Many teachers forget 
 this,f and coerce the school into a state of order that de- 
 stroys its efficiency, while other teachers whose physical force 
 is not so well developed, and who are not auch martinets,allow 
 ' the school to degenerate into a Babel. It is in a chronic state 
 of disorder, and the happiest moment of the superintendent 
 and teachers is when the school closes, d^pecially if it closes 
 without a storm. All this arises from ignoring, or endea- 
 vouring to repress, the God-given activity of the children. 
 Set them to work, and especially set them to work on some- 
 thing which tliey cannot understand, and in which they are 
 interested, and all this discord and confusion will speedily 
 be remedied. A Temperance organization in the school will 
 . provide just what is needed. The teachers and scholars 
 will soon be united in the sympathy which arises from 
 
 t 
 
-A 
 
 2ir RELATJONSHIP OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
 bcirijT engaged in a common work. Th'^y will soon begin to 
 iindurstiind and appreciate each other more highly. It will 
 provit^ work for all; and give each the work for which hef 
 is best fitted. There will be meetings to be arranged for, 
 songs to be sung, recitations to be given, absentees to seek, 
 .'idherents to gain. Thus every one will be actively employ etl, 
 and each will have the joyous consciousness that he is not 
 living in vain, but that he is taking his part in/the noble 
 work^of delivering his country from its greatest foos. Besides 
 this, the school would not be content with merely holding 
 meetings, but, as is the case in all well-managed Bands of 
 Hope, would organize a literature department, the scholars 
 being encouraged to attempt the sale of books and periodicals. 
 These, being obtained at wholesale prices, will leave a good 
 margin of profit, and the whole amount maxle by each 
 scholar being given to him in synie useful form at the end 
 of the year, will form a powerful stimulus to imhistry. 
 The books thus earned will form the nucleus of a Kood 
 library, a library that may be of immense value^ both to 
 them an^ those with whom they are associatedf^^^his is 
 not a mere theory. I know of one Wesleyan Band of Hope 
 in a poor neighbourhood, that sells as many as forty thousand 
 books, and periodicalsj per aitnifffl. Tlie value of such a work 
 as this is bqyond coimputation. For not only is a vast 
 amount of pure literature spread where it is greatly' needed, 
 but" right habits are formed by the little tradespie/ople, and 
 the whole school is strengthened by the result. Such 
 an arrangement as this in eveiy school, would soon turn 
 the whole army of Sunday-school scholars into home 
 missionaries, and colporteurs, and would exert a mighty 
 purifying and educating influence upon the population of 
 the country. 
 
 While the external influence of the union would be so 
 great, the internal effect would be still, glreater. First, it. 
 would shelter the scholars from the danger of falling victims 
 
 7 
 
/ 
 
 TO THE BAND/ OF HOPE. 
 
 %n 
 
 n- ^ 
 
 to irt^empefance. Every cWild would go out into life 
 knowihg that there was danger, and protected against it 
 They would also strengthen each other in their resolution 
 to abstatn, and the strong thus, infusing some*" of their 
 strength into the weak, liirould ensure a consistency on the 
 part of thev scholars which would be almost irresistible, 
 while the puMic opinion in the Jichool wotild more thai 
 counteract the/Wposi^ion met with without 
 
 It would alko^reserve them from forming bad compatiifl«h- 
 ships J young/ people' who like the glass will not A^mnlt to 
 associate with staunch abstainers, and thus tho^e/who- 
 abstain will escape a^arful peril. "'. 
 
 It would also do much to develop the moral boii^age pf 
 the scholars. It is a Imost humiliating fact thfttr a vast 
 number of people are yery defective in this/ respect, 
 especially so in matters pertaining to motaJwy and religion, 
 They are governed by feeling^ policy, convenience, ease, or 
 worldly interest, rather , tht^ \hy principle, 7 They are 
 creatures of circumstances, and can never say "Yes" or 
 "No " on the real merits of a queation. TheirAriews depend 
 on their company ; they always " Think so too ir' they neither 
 row nor steer, but drift, and are at the mercy of ^ery wind 
 that blowsl. Now total abstinence, intelligently and heartily', 
 adopted by the children in our schools, ^ill do mudh to- 
 remedy this state of things. It will teach the^ to judge^ 
 discrimina,te,. decide, and act upon their deciiipn. \It will 
 teach them to say " Yes " and " No " intelligently ani^ con- 
 sistently, and the ability to do this will be a greatet boon 
 to a child than the gift of ^1000. It may seem a litt 
 thing for a boy or girl to say " No " when ieisked to tH|ce a 
 glass of wine, but it is not so. That word, thus brai^ly 
 spoken, will have a mighty influeftce upon the futu] 
 character and history of the child. The having said " No 
 in the face of example and custom, and against strong 
 pressure from some of those whom they esteem and love, 
 
-*v 
 
 274 RELATIONSHIP QF THE SUN DA Y SCHOOL 
 
 will do much to eimblo tlicm to say " No " to other tempta- 
 tions, and under other circumstances. It will bo the first 
 step in a path that leads to glory and honoiir. It is to the 
 child a battle, which, ending in victory, will nerve him for 
 future conllicts and future victories ; and will do much 
 towards placing him at last amongst those who, having over- 
 come, shall inherit all things. 
 
 f^'i'-' 
 
 -. «; 
 
 — r The EldeiI Scholars. —#- 
 
 This union will also do much towards -enabling the 
 school to retain its elder scholars. At present, a largo 
 number of those who are ending their teens think it beneath 
 them to attend the Sunday school, but let them be identified 
 with a great patriotic movement, and their enthusiasm. will 
 intensify as their intelligei^co increases ; an^ feeling that 
 the school is their headquarters in the great struggle, 
 they will prize it* beyond measure, and abide by it to 
 tlie end. Those who have not yet decided for Christ 
 will iind this neutral groilnd, where they can be fully 
 and usefully employed, and their services heartily recog- 
 nised. They will thus be kept connected with the School 
 and the Church, and the association will in numbers of 
 inslJlnces lead to their full consecration to Christ and His 
 wprk. 
 
 Thus all the W(&alth of the school will be laid under con- 
 tribution ; education, taste, musical ability, gifts of speech, 
 faculty for organizatiori, power of persuasion, will all be needed 
 and employed, and gifts will be developed, the very exist- 
 ence of which would otherwise have been unknown. 
 
 
 - : 7 Thb Church. 
 
 ■ . ' ' ■ ' ■ ."'"/'•.''''■■■■' - '^ 
 
 Lastly, this uhion would inamensely help the Church tat 
 
 the performance of her aggressive work. At present a 
 
 gulf yawns between the Church and the multitude; gather- 
 
•31 
 
 j iVijiaWii '"' 
 
 TO THE BAND OF IfOPE. 
 
 a75 
 
 ings of its wisest and best n)embcr» aro beiii^ bold to 
 <liscus>j tbo question, " How to reacb tbo masses?" Iftbo 
 Sunday scbool will beartily adopt tlio Uand of HpiH), tbis 
 perplexing problem will soon bo solved. It will tbrow a 
 bridge across tbe gulf, over wliicb tbe ,C)iurch can reacb the 
 people witii ber message of love and mercy, and across 
 
 ' wbicb tbey can come for ligbt and salvation. The vast' . 
 bosts of young people, filled with entbuaiusm about meetings , " 
 in wbicb tbey are to take part, vvill be buiiian advertise- 
 ments seen and beard of ail men, and under their intliience . 
 the sympathy and curiosity of the parents will be excited, 
 and their/ attendance secure'd at these meetings. After ^ a 
 few visits these prejudices will be removed,' old* momories 
 awakened, and influence exerted, that will ultimately lead 
 many of/them to tlie Saviour. I know that this union will 
 not be Accomplished without a good tleal of self-sacritice, 
 Ijut the object contemplated is soMmense, so important, and 
 so pressing, that I think it ouglflj^ l)e attempted at. once. 
 Let the Sunday-school workers iu% understand the fearful 
 peril to whjch their children are exposed through the drink- 
 ing habits of the country ,»and I am sure they will put asitle 
 habit and prejudice, and make any sacrifice to preserve 
 them from ruin. There arp but two paths open to the 
 children, one the broad, winding, indefinite puth of mydera- ., 
 tion, the path by which every drunkard reached the way of 
 darkness a'nd despair; and the other the plain, safe path of 
 total abstinence, tbe path which leads to health, virtue, and 
 religion. Tbe Sunday -school teachers are the spiritual 
 
 • guides of the children under their care. By their labouia 
 and sacrifices they have won thi'ir confidence and love, they 
 have access to millions of those that tbe Temperance organi- 
 zations do not reach. These children, having faith in their , 
 wisdom and love, are asking them which path they shall 
 take. Tbey must give an answer. They cannot be 
 neutral. If their voice is silent, their conduct will reply. 
 
^^ >■ 
 
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 *! 
 
 316 SUNDAY SCHOVl A^D BAND OF HOPE. 
 
 Surely, RUTety you will not hesitate rts to what that, reply 
 shall be ! Think of their value, think of thoir peril, think 
 of the multitudes who have perished, tliink of the numbers 
 whose feet are even now standing in 8li[)pery places, and 
 looking to Oo<l for guidance and strength, take their yoinig 
 hnhds |n yours, and leading them in the Band of Hope, say, 
 " This is the way, walk ye iu it." #» 
 
 \- 
 
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-Vt..^ 
 
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 1(1 
 
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 XIX. 
 
 TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL. 
 
 I CONGRATULATE you, Mr. Chairman, on presiding over 
 such a magnificent gathering as the present. 1 look 
 upon it that this is one of the signs of the times, and a 
 very clear proof that the Temperance movement is uot_ 
 retrojgrading. And I would ask anybody — why should it? 
 ^8 the^il with which we battle diminishing ? Are there 
 less terrible effects resulting from drink than there uSed to 
 be? We have but to look at the scenes of vice and 
 misgHlMiround us— at the criminal returns and the police 
 replwP— and the revenue returns— and you must be 
 per«»ctly satisfied that the great bulk of the people still 
 continue to partake enormously of intoxicating drink. 
 Well,' if this be so, then it is evident that our work is not 
 finished, and that we must gird up our loins for what is, 
 perhaps, to be a long and arduous struggle. We must go 
 forward. We can no more go back than the magnificent 
 eagle can go back into the egg from which it came. The 
 thing is utterly impossible. The total abstinence movement 
 is as thoroughly the work of God as Methodism-^and when 
 God works who shall hinder Him ? When God-, calls any 
 organization /into existence, it "will continue to live until its 
 work is done. God is no foolish builder. He does not 
 begin to build unless He is able t(0 finish. There will be 
 more seeiv in the future than there has been in the past, 
 now ia onlv the first rioDle of the advancing 
 
 yon 
 
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878 TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL 
 
 tiilo. Hilt tluj wnv(>i) will ^row ntroiigur aiui Htronger, until 
 by and by they HJiall Hwutip away the drinking syHttinrt'ur 
 ovur nnd over. Our biiftinesH is to liulp on that day. Mr. 
 HaaH la exceedingly anxious that tliu pooplu of this country 
 Hliould have right views of the evilfl, the terrible evils, 
 roHuUing from the present nitnle of nintinging our nillwiiy 
 uffuirs. Ho says he believes tfiut we don't know how nmny 
 persons are injured and' killed thereby ; und that it is so 
 terrible a thing to think of the aggregate atnount of iiijiiied 
 and killed by our railways, that the people of the country 
 cannot be awake to it, or they would insist on a remedy. 
 That is what Mr. Bass thirikst So he is deteriuined that 
 things ahull be set right, and he lias appointed a cdm- 
 niissioner of his own,- to inspect the Lancashire and York- 
 shire line, and to report upon it. As I happen to use that 
 railway pretty often, I heartily wish him success in remedy- 
 ing the evil. But there is anotJier trade which Mr. Bass 
 knows a little about, and we believe that the people of this 
 country need |io special commissioner to tell them that the 
 evils resulting from that trade are immensely more terrible 
 than any railway disasters, sad as these are. Our business 
 is to arouse the people of this country, by putting before 
 them grave facts, by pressing them hotne on their con- 
 sciences, and by giving them arguments which shall lead to 
 vigorous and dt^rmined action. Our work is hard, but 
 it is not quite so hard as at the beginning: others have 
 laboured, and we have entered into their labours. We must 
 bring our arguments, state our facts, restate them, and fight 
 "kour battles over again,, and we shall have to do all this 
 unitedly and repeatedly, because there are difhculties in the 
 way which We cannot over-estimate. Some time ago one 
 of our number met a member of the Society of Friends-— ^a 
 Society which has so many estimable men and women— and 
 talked to him on the Temperance question. He brought his 
 facts and arguments to bear on the Quaker's mind, and the 
 
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 a 
 
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TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL J79' 
 
 Fiietitl listeiU'd with the cftlrniu>H» ftiiil courUny whicll no 
 «liHtin«uinli hi« l»r«!tl»run. To uuch fact (iiul tti:^uni«Mit lie 
 ftMneiitoa with "you," " yt<' "yoa;" aiul then, wh.-n the 
 ginxl tectotuUer hud uxhuii^ltMl hit) sttM'k of argiim«Mit«, the 
 
 old j;«'»il"'"«» *""•'• " •*'«■•*'•><•. ' ««'" ''''!' '"^' •""*'*' "' ^''^ 
 urgmiionts, unci thou hiist Imt to prove oim thiiij,' iiioni, \\\\\ 
 1 uiii with thue." "VVhut is that?" t'ii#ly unkr.l the 
 ttbstuiner,. " Wt-ll," suid the guuker, " thou hust only to 
 pmvt) that I ilon't liko tlnj drink, and I un> wilh lliee." 
 Thousands Huy tho Hunie thing, an nuuiy of yoti in rllVMit ur\) 
 now suyinj,' it to niu — ^" You hitvu proved that think <loe8 a 
 grout doul of harm; that many poopKj would Itc hrnelitod 
 hy j,'ivin«,' it up entii-cly ;• that it often, ruins tho houI -aa 
 well us the body; but then-^l like it!" But for that 
 you would be with us, hi'iiiefoilhand for ever. My tleur 
 friyn<l.s, there '\a more in that than at first meets tlm ear. I 
 beiiovo »» «»»y litit^'"'' thut if strong drink wece only at* nasty 
 08 Baits, an<l senna, thousands of people, who cannot now see 
 the force of our ai^niwents, wouhl then, see tluuniTilireetly. 
 This is our great jJiUiculty. Wo have to contind with 
 appetite, with habit, with oiisUmj, with iuuuenso iuterysls, 
 anxTall these things range themselves between men and tho 
 light, and they ronuiin in darkness. It is our duty to 
 remove these obstacles, and to let the light shine, even on 
 tKose who uitty he unwilling to receive it. What, then, are 
 we aiming ut,? I answer uuhesitatin^ly —we are aiming at 
 a sober world. I want you to see where we «re. 1 need 
 not say to anybody wlio knows me that I nevtr willingly 
 •deal in clap-trap, and that I do not kuowj»gly throw dust ^ 
 in, the eyes of any num. A nu\n won by a lie, is not worth 
 having ; he will not be kept if gained, and, probably, would 
 hot be worth the keeping. If I am wrong, come ami show it, 
 and I'll admit the error ; '\l right, then, in ti.ename of tmtli -\ 
 and o^ the God of truth, come on our side. The Temperance' 
 mof^ient rests on two great facts, and I am exceedingly 
 
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»*>?• 
 
 a8o TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL, 
 
 ■ ■ 1 ' ■ ■ - . ■ ■ ■.■.-■ 
 
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 anxious that our friends should just take these two facts, 
 and look at them honestly before high heaven. First, 
 Intemperance is an immense, a;nd terrible evil. Is it so? 
 I want to know how far we go togethpr. I w^pt you to go 
 all the way with me; I shall be thankful if you can go all 
 the way,*but, if not, why half a loaf is better than no bread. 
 Is it a fact— I ask you Christian men— 4hat Intempeiunce 
 is a great and terrible evil? I don't want you just to 
 admit this. It is easy to admit: it is sometimes more 
 difficult to ^how that you are convinced. Admission is 
 often the idle man's refuge, I want faith. Is it so? If it 
 be such an immense and terrible evil, what becomes of 
 -the sneers with which we (ire sometimes greeted ? There 
 is a kind of good-tempered chaff which we have occasion- 
 ally to encounter. They say, " This teetotalism of ^ours 
 is a bit of a .hobby ; it pleases you, and does not hurt 
 us ; if you can do a bit of good, God bless you ; you're a 
 decent sort of chap ; it's all quite right ;" and so on. Now 
 I want you to see farther into this question than that^ — ^I 
 want you to see that this evil affects the welUbein" of 
 England— that, it is not a wart, but a cancer — ^^that it is 
 sapping the strength of the nation, and that, if it be not 
 checked, it will eat out the national vigour, and drag us 
 down from our place among the nations. Look for an 
 instant at the nature of this evil. I think some of our 
 'friends do nojb understand it. It is easy to pronounce the 
 ' word " drunkenness ; " but who can fathom it ? There are 
 'some words the meaning of which no dictionary can convey, 
 and no words can, I am very sure, cQinvey the full meanin*'? 
 and inapprt of this word, ^here are some tliinys which you 
 ..and I can only understand by biing brought face to, face 
 (^with them ;. and this is one of them. Do you see what I 
 Mnean? Take the word "toothache." You may read the 
 il^njost learned treatise on the teeth, written by the most 
 i talented and experienced dentist, and, when you have done, 
 
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TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL, 381 
 
 you will not have half as clear a notion of the matter as if 
 you had a genuine attack of that "hell of all diseases." 
 Some thi|igs you cannot learn from books ; experience will 
 be the best teacher. And so we hear people talking glibly 
 about drunkenness— until their own son has fallen, or their 
 daughter's fair fame is tarnished, and then they bow their 
 heads in sorrow," and curse the drink, and all that belongs 
 thereto. ^(||b ^^ ,"3 teetotallers are accused of 8ayin<; strong 
 things ; but^e iron has entered into our souls — our tears 
 have fallen like rain, our hearts are yell-nigh broken. I 
 heard the othe/day a young man say strong things; and he 
 felt that he was doing it, and said so; but,said he, " I have 
 a. right to do it, for it killed my father!" When you 
 hear a man or a woman speaking strongly, as^ wheUier^hey 
 have not suflfered from the evil. If you have been i^ the 
 school of experience you will soon know that' there lire ills 
 arising from the vice of drunkenness which hb vyords Ciin 
 describe. To my ministerial friends, then, I *say in all 
 candour that I wish them to understand that we don't 
 profess to be better than they ; we oiily profess to know 
 more thart they do on one particular point. There are »»en 
 among ray ministerial brethren whose shoe latchet I am not 
 worthy to unloose. But, I earnestly ask them, is there any 
 other evil equal to this? Let us look at a few of the evils 
 with which we contend^ — take falsehood, take blasphemy, 
 take dishonesty. Now, my brethren, as intelligent men, I 
 will make you the jury. Are these evils to be put by the 
 side o£^ drunkenness ? I think not. Take dishonesty — 
 how it minifies by the side of drunkenness. Dishonesty 
 only touches one part of the man's nature, and does not 
 necessarily affect the others. The thief may preserve a 
 well-balanced mind, and a good physical constitution. A 
 dishonest man may be ft good father, and his children 
 have a good education, perhaps better than some honest 
 men's. But what part of a man does drunkenness leave 
 
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 *8a TEMJP^RANCM ADDRESS IN CORNWALL. 
 
 alone ? It tbuches every part of his nature. The Liverpool' 
 stipendiary magistrate, Mr. Aspinall, says, "We shall never 
 do anything as we ought far putting down drunkenness until 
 we teach everybody that it is a sin, and a criuie." You 
 must not. eover it jup with wnooth words, such as " three 
 sheets in the wind," " a drop too much," " a little over- 
 taken." Don't you see 'that all these* are so many self- 
 delv^ns ? God does not talk about it in that way. He 
 says, "No drunkard shall enter the kingdom of heaven," 
 Look at the poor wretches — tottering along, trembling, 
 paralysed ! — their reasoti; dethroijed ; '- their consciences 
 seared: until the man sinks lower than the beasts, and 
 allows his children to perish, or imbrues his hands with 
 the life-blowi of her whom he4ias sworn to protect and 
 cherish ! It is only seen in all its heinousness and 
 inagnitude by the eye of the Oinniscient One. It touches 
 all interests. I scarcely knov^ which to dwell on first. 
 Take Commerce, and see how drunkenness affects that. 
 1.50 millions of our money are turned into this channel- 
 say one half of it spent in drunkeimess, and other half in 
 moderation. You have here 75 millions spent in drunken- 
 ness. Is not that a national calamity? Are wie not all 
 interested' in it ? Can we spend our money in two things ? 
 The boy who buys a top for a penny cannot spend his 
 penny in marbles ; the man who buys a hat for 15s. 
 cannot buy a 1 5s. pair of shoes with the same money. 
 But do the men who buy hats and shoes stand on an equal 
 ground with those who buy alcoholic drink ? Not a bit of 
 it. He who spends 15s. in drink wants more, and yet 
 -more!" Is that so with the other articles? Does a 
 man buy a pair of boots, and get into a stsEte of incessant 
 iinrest until he obtains another pait ? Does any wife go to 
 her neighbour with a care-worn, anxious, tearful face, and say, 
 "Oh, my poor husband is on the spree — buying boots and 
 shoes!" Does the other woman say, "Just like jny man 
 
t^_-W^;f »»<,- •^^•^- J^ f^^^^f 
 
 TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORN WALL. 283 
 
 ■ ' ' ■ ■■ ' ■■ ':..■■ 
 
 \ off all the week buying bonnets and caps for the 
 
 children. Oh, what shall we do ! " To be sure not ; the 
 money spent in these articles does not create an appetite 
 until everything else is forgotten, as does tliis one of drink. 
 You'irfind, as I have already iiitimuted, all the legitimate 
 trades are a kind of holy brotherhood ; th^, success of one 
 is the success of the others. The trade in drink is a kind 
 of Ishmael; its hand is against every man, and every 
 man's hand ought to be against it. lircthren, do yon 
 believe this? I want you to see it. You go and buy a 
 hat, and you'll soon find that theue is something else 
 wanted. The coat that was old, but looked as if it would 
 last a little longer, seems rather white about the seams. 
 You try not to perceive it You say to yourself that you 
 don t want another coat just yet; but still that hat says.^aV 
 plainly ' and continuously us a new hat can say j^ny thing, 
 "Go to. the tailor!" lb is so persistent that at/last jou 
 exclaim,'"! really do think that I wan*^ £V new Sunday 
 coat," and you buy it Then the trousers are not just the 
 thing. So the hat led to the coat, and the trousers. ' Does 
 not that show how all trades are linked tj^^ether ? A man 
 had a sofa presented to him, that he might rest a little 
 when, his day's work was done. It was new antl handsome: 
 His wife, after admiring the lovely sofa, thought the carpet 
 looked wondrously shabby. Husband 'said the carpet was 
 all right; it did very well before. Wife — one of the gentle 
 sort who knew the power of snowilakes falling one by one 
 —said nothing more for a bit but soon returned to the 
 charge. "The carpet really is jiiuch worn, and such an 
 old-fashioned pattern; the sofa would look ever so much 
 better' with a new carpet.": ^Nobody could deny that and 
 thus the carpet was had. But then the wall paper was 
 altogether out of harmony, ntonstrously so; and thta- 
 reflected on the taste of both parties. Neither wished 
 
 s ordered. 
 
 ■7- 
 
 to be suspected of bad taste. 
 
 paper 
 
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 ^84 TE^MPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL. 
 
 The result of the sofa was' new furniture for the whole 
 room. Thus all legitimate trades are linked together, 
 and are friends and not enemies. A man going into a 
 grocer's shop is not made a bad customer for other trades, 
 but a man going into the drink -shop is made a bad 
 Customer for everybody. So here is commerce . injured, 
 and I want to see this drink done. away with because it is 
 you^ enemy as well as mina See also how this affects 
 society itself. It turns citizens into criminals; the tax- 
 payer, into the tax-receiver/ It is said that a drunkard is 
 nobody's enemy but his own. Yes he is. He is the 
 nation's enemy. He ought to be one of the pillars to bear 
 the national burden, but he becomes a weight for others to 
 bear. I wa^ at the Liverpool Police Court very recently, 
 on a Monday, and saw that excellent and Christian magis- 
 trate, Mr. Aspinall, adjudicate on 140 cases of drunkenness. 
 The offenders were from 91 years of age to 13! One was 
 a little boy whose head just came above the dock, and 
 whose father, a respectable man, was weeping like a child. 
 A husband was fined 5s. and costs, and looking roiind the 
 court with glaring eyes, he said, "Where's, my missus?" 
 " Ah," jsaid Mr. Aspinall, "that is the way: you spend your 
 wife's money week after week, the money which should be 
 liers to keep the house open and the chil(lren fed, you get 
 dnvnk, and then look" out for your ill-used 'missus.' If 
 you had not good wives, I don't know what would become 
 of many of you^" A Woman, 40 years of age, was placed 
 in the dock. "How miiny times have you been here?" 
 " Sixty-isix, sir!" Then there was a young girl of 1 6. " Oh, 
 Agnes," sai4 the kind magistrate, " you here again— yon, 
 who should be the joy of some home, again in this plight?" 
 Agnes bent her face in her hands. " How many. times ? " 
 *\ Thirteen, sir." *' Oh, Agues, what can I do to reclaim 
 you? Character gone, home lost, I can do no better for 
 you than ^ send you to gaol for three months." Ah, 
 
TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL. 285 
 
 indeed, what can wg do ! Here they come, one after the 
 other, a sad processioii of Saturday and Sunday inebriates. 
 Have I not proved to you that this drinking system is one 
 of the most terrible curves that afflicts humanity t I must 
 point for a moment or two at the influence which it 
 exercises upon the family. The family circle should be the 
 type of heaven : let drunkenness come in, and it becomes 
 the type of hell. What does it do ? Go and ask the father 
 whose hoary head it has brought down in sorrow to the 
 grave. Oo and ask the mother as she weeps over the 
 coffin of one who was to have been her earthly solace and 
 stay. Ask the husband whose life's hopes are blasted. 
 Ask the wife whose all is lying in the dust. Ask the 
 desolate and outcast little children there. " I hate the 
 drink," said a young man recently j "I hate and cur^e it, 
 every day." ^ " Why ? " " I'll telL you why. When I wa/ 
 a little boy my father took my jacket off my back, and my 
 very shoes off my feet; he left me without a particle of 
 clothing, and went and pawned the things and spent the 
 money. I had no education* I soon had no home. I was 
 flung out into the world. And I hate the drink from my very 
 heart!" So do I. Don't you ? Yes, a thousand times, yes. 
 Christian brethren, — -if we could gather on some vast plain 
 the myriads who liave been cursed by drink, liot the victims 
 only but those who suffer through and with them, what should 
 we behold ? The brightest jewels of our Churches and our 
 families, the teachers and the taught of our Sunday schools, 
 the manliest of our men, the tenderest of our women, hus- 
 band and wife, brother and sister, parents and children — ^ten 
 thousand thousand sufferers by strong drink ! If I could I 
 would make the Christian Church walk in procession right 
 through the serried ranks, that their hearts might be wrung 
 by the tears and cries of anguish. The Church herself is 
 too often bereaved by strong drink. God's heritage, redeemed 
 with the precious blood of Christ, is diminished. Think of 
 
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a86 TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWAf.1, '' < 
 
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 the awful fact that 20,000 people are lost to thtj Christian 
 Church every year through drink ! Think of it ! Twenty 
 thousand people. What does that numl)er mean? More 
 than all the Methodists of Cornwidl. If some fell disease 
 should attack our niemhers, and lay low every Methodist 
 in Cornwall! Would not Conference take the alarm? 
 Would they not hasten to stand between tlie living and 
 the dead, that the plague might be stayed? If we had a 
 love-fenst (but it would be a sorrow-feast), and my brethren 
 would stand up and tell all they know about the doings of 
 drink, the Lamentations of Jeremiah would be almost a 
 joyous song by the side of the a j;ony described. Think of 
 those who have fallen. As I speak, name after name recurs 
 to my memory— devout and honoured ministers, men of 
 profound learning, popular lecturers, young men full of 
 liope and of promise, who have fallen ! One of the good 
 things for which I blessniy sainted mother, was her teach- 
 ing me to pray for the ministers in ^our Circuit every 
 morning and nigl^t by name. I always did it. As a 
 child I had my favourite ministers, and, when the new "ones 
 came, some of those who left were omitted. There were 
 others, however, whom I "^ never forgot. There was one 
 whose name I cannot mention, but he will be ever linked 
 with my earliest memories. His farewell sermon ! I shall 
 never forget it. I can see him now bidding farewell to those 
 to whom he had ministered so faithfully— his last affec^ 
 tionate adieus are in my ears ! I never omitted to pray for 
 him. But I lived to mourn the day when his name was 
 omitted homowtlfimUes through strong drink. Who is safe 
 - — where is the man that uses strong drink who dares stand 
 up and say he is absolutely secure ? Is your body stronger 
 than theirs? is your brain clearer than theirs? Is your 
 piety deeper than theirs ? Alas, no 1 Let him, therefore, 
 that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he falU My 
 second fact is, that total abstinence is the only complete 
 

 TEMPERANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL. 387 
 
 tetnedy for this evil. I rejoice to know that there hftvft 
 been iiieii saved from this vice by other means. But the 
 only complete remedy for intempertincei's total abstinence. 
 Do you believe it? In the name of my Master I put it 
 to you — Have you any other remedy ? If you have, bring 
 it out, and let us look at it. If you can show me a more 
 effectual remedy, I'll fling mine to the winds, and ado[)t 
 yours to-night. All I want is a sober world, by the best 
 means. But I am not going to jget out of. niy strong and 
 tested boat to embark in your paper one, when the storm 
 is abroad, and the rocks are^near. I must be sure before I 
 leave this good old craft, that I gain a better and a safer 
 one by the change. I went down to see your beautiful 
 "Eichard Lewis," and I read the record of the crews she 
 had saved^ — bless her and all her live-saving crew 1 Bring 
 out your remedial " Kichard Lewis" to-niglit,and show your 
 rescued men. We bring out our lifebcmt; we are not 
 ashamed of her ; we have the names of the men she has 
 Baved — oh, for an angel's tongue, then would I give them ! 
 thoi^e names are everywhere — wherever the Temperance 
 lifeboat has been launched, there are rescued men and 
 women. Do' you ask where they are to be found? 1 
 answer in tl^rf^uilding societies, at the polling-booth, in 
 class .meetings, at quarterly meetings, in the pulpit, and 
 passing through the gates into the city a cloud of witnesses 
 they stand — our lifeboat brought them from the wreck and 
 placed them at the feet of Jesus, and now they are eternally 
 rejoicing with their Saviour. One stormy niglit last winter 
 there was a ring at my door. Presently the servant came. 
 A gentleman wanted to see me. He Was one of the finest 
 men I ever looked on ; he was over six feet high, his hair 
 as white as snow. He said, "Do you remember me?" 
 After a moment's thought I said, "Yes; I saw you when I 
 preached at such a chapel." Hes said, "Yes ; and as you 
 shook me by the hand you said, ' I hope we' shall 'meet in 
 
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 %%Z TEMPRRANCE ADDRESS IN CORNWALL, 
 
 heaven/ I am come," said he, "to tell you we never 
 shall! I have been a meriiber of a Christian churbh for 
 many years, and teacher of the select class in the Sunday 
 school, but drink has mAstered me; I am filling all around 
 me with shame and sorrow, and I have resolved this ni|,'ht 
 to end it ; but, somehow, I felt I could not go till I had 
 seen yon." I at once proceeded to reason with him. We 
 bent our knees in prayer; divine help was given; and 
 strong in God's strength he signed the pledge ; and soon 
 afterwards I saw him bowing at the sacramental table,- and 
 as we parted he said, "Thank God, you were a teetotaller; 
 you have saved a soul from death." Did not that give me 
 greater joy than wine ever can give? You young jnen 
 who knelt before us to-day as you dedicated soul and body 
 to the work of the Church, what say you to that? Oh, 
 to save a soul from death is a joy infinitely superior to the 
 pleasure of a glass of wine ! Young brothers— Do you 
 think that as long as you live anybody will thank God 
 that you take strong drink ? Never. Will anybody ever 
 thank God that you take a glass of wine now and then ? 
 Never. Come into our Temperance lifeboat. Join us at 
 once and for ever. There is a great work yet to be done. 
 If you„ render gallant service, unending and rich beyond 
 compare will be your recompense. Let us reach the wreck 
 Jmd take the endangered ones' off, and the blessing of 
 h^ven and earth shall be our reward. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 p-v----/-- 
 
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 XX. 
 
 ADDRESS AT THE (ECUMENTCAt CONFEHENCM 
 OF THE METHODIST GHUUCH. 
 
 THE subject allotted to mo is "Juvenile T«inperance' 
 Organizations, and, their Troniotion through the- 
 Sunday School, and Church," and l venture to think that 
 no subject, of greater importance, will come before this 
 Conference. The future of both the Church, and the world, 
 depends upon the character, aiid conduct, of the young. If 
 they grow up sober, intelligent, and Christian, the millennial 
 ^lory will soon be here. If they become^ intemperate, 
 sensual; and sinful, there is nothing before ,ii|fl but ages of 
 sorrow, and shahie. We nmy well, then, gaittier from all 
 lands, and with prayerful earnestness ask, What can we do 
 to ensure the well-being of our children ? 
 
 It is a terrible fact tUat myriads of our young people 
 have perished through strong drink, and that multitudes of 
 otliers are in imminent danger. Intemperance is the giant 
 evil of our land/ Its victims are on every hand, and its 
 blighting shadow rests almost on every home. This is not 
 a mere theory, but a hideous fact, the evidence of which is 
 written in tears and blood. Our greatest brewer (Mr 
 Buxton) has declared it to be " the wor»t of plagues," and 
 our greatest statesman (Mr Gladstone) has said that " its 
 results are more terrible than those of war, pestilence, and 
 famine combined." "Ws^ , 
 
 This evil, juvenile temperance organizations are designed 
 
 to grapple with and destroy. They, like most other of our 
 
 . ■ :'■ ■'■• ■'■ 'T' --^ - .• .':/':■: ■. 
 
990 ADDRESS AT (ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE 
 
 \ 
 
 gront Boclnl movomonta, are children of the nineteenth cen- 
 tury, but th«y have ftlrviwly accomplished sucIj gh>riou« result*, 
 that r ftm wurratitcd in saying that they are di'stihed to assist . 
 L iu iiuiking this century memorable till time shall be no more. 
 These organizations are founded upon what appears to me 
 to be the wises't, and soundest principles. They deal with 
 the young, knowing that if the yoiing are rightly trained, the 
 manhood of the future will 4x) safe. They say that drunken- 
 ness is cnnstKLjx^usivoly by the use of intoxicating drinks, 
 being unknown where these drinks are unknown, and 
 existing wherever they are used, cursing the rich man's 
 
 filace tts well »i8 the poor mar's cot, an^dragging down the . 
 lild of the Christian, as readily as the child ^ the outcast ; 
 that science has declared them to be not only unnecessary for 
 the young, but niost injurious to them. They therefore go to 
 the root of the matter, and require every member to pledge 
 himself to total abstinence, knowing that the child who keeps 
 , ' that pledge may be a thousand other things, but can never 
 be a di-unkard. 
 
 These organizations have already made rapid progress 
 amongst us, and" havf done a great work. There are in 
 ■* Gireat Britain at le^t^ ten thousand, with two million 
 members, and I trudt we shall hear to-day that in other 
 lands their progress lias been still more rapid, and the rtsults 
 still more gratifying, 
 
 The question before us is, "What can the Sunday school, 
 and the Church, do i o promote these organizations ? This 
 question I wish brie :ly to)ansWer. And, as the time is sa 
 limited, 1 shall have to content myself with giving a few 
 suggestions, with sea -cely a word of explanation or illustra- 
 tion. First, the School — and when I speak of the school I 
 speak of the Church for the school is now practically the 
 • juvenile part of the Church. ,The School should adopt the 
 temperance organization, and make it, not a mere accidental 
 appendage, as it has been hitherto, but an essential, integral 
 part of her organization. It should no loflger he left to the 
 
OF THE METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
 191 
 
 intrcy of any pnwpr-by who iimy luivo the cotiraj^o to tnko 
 holil of it, but nhould l»«- iiouriHiuul niui ch«riMhed by tho 
 8(;Jhool aa part of burself. Sluj shoiihi organizo, support, 
 and work the wliolu inachnutry, and take th6 entiro 
 roBponsibility upon herBelf. Then, and only then, will tho 
 work bo properly done. 
 
 To facilitate this, it will be well for each school to oloct a 
 tfinperance secretary, as it does a nii»«ionttry secretary or 
 librarian, and it Hhould be bis duty to take tho oversight of 
 the teniiwrance department of the schuol work. In this way 
 the abstaining scholars will bo recognised, encouraged, and 
 guided, and class by clnsn the whole school be ultimately 
 enrolled in the temperance ranks. 
 
 Addresses on the subject should lie given quarterly ; and, 
 as with missions, a special sermon be preached every year. 
 Tempefaiice should also find ^s full place in the 
 periodicals of the school, and everything be done to 
 impress upon the scholars the fact ^tliat tetiipeM(|pB must 
 be the rule of their life. I 
 
 I know that this will be a^ great step to take^ — far 
 greater than our friends from America imagine, — but it ia 
 a step imperatively demandea by the condition of things 
 around us, and the beneficial results of which will be so 
 great that. Once taken, it will never again bo retraced. 
 
 Let me name a few of these results. First, it will be of 
 incalculable value to the /temperance organizations them- 
 selves. Hitherto the Church has been too much like some 
 fashionable mothers, so bdsy with her own adornments and 
 gratifications, that she has left her children to the care of 
 servants, contenting herself with a passing word of approval 
 on special occasions. ySo this temperance child has been 
 left pretty much to itself, and, as a consequence, it has said 
 and done things that have grieved its best friends, things it 
 never would have sa/d and done if its mother had performed 
 her duty. Now wef know that God has said, " A child left 
 to himself bringetn his mother io shame." The shame. 
 
■\*\ 
 
 J-.:t 
 
 
 199 ADDRESS AT (EC 
 th«r«fore. of thin belonKN 
 
 VMEN/CAl CONi'EHHNCE 
 
 to the mother, and not to 
 
 chihl. It hnn Xwxm itH niiMroryino, not itH fault, 
 niothur lUKlt'rstnnd thut her chiUi hiis ci^jIitH iia w 
 dutios. I^it \wv Hi't t<» work to do ht-r «luty, ,in 
 talking altout hoi- HghtH ; thu uvilit will t\ti^ noon \w 
 ruinudiod, and tho child (>nt(>r u{H>n nn <;ra of ^cppintittfi and 
 prosponty. N«xt, Uxtk at tli« h«<n«fit8" whicti tho Church 
 M ill dcrivo from such a conrso. These, I rejoice to Ray.^jiro 
 HO many, that I Hhould retpiiro the whole of the tv'^utity/^ 
 uiiuutcH allotted to mu even to name then». I will there- 
 fore content niyHel{ with mentioning one or two; a host of 
 others will, I mwjko^, present theniHelvcu to every cue thut 
 takes the trouhl^fojook at tho matter. 
 
 FiTst, it wrfitid inftse now vigour into tho school itself. 
 NotlT^g benefits young people so much as setting them to 
 work. " Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands io 
 do." And numy of our schools are. a sad illustration of this 
 truth. From want of work, a kind of mental dyspepsitpr^'as 
 set in, and they are in a chronic state of irritability and *dis- 
 contont. Set them to work, and all [this will be speedily" 
 remedied, ai^t^ a temperance organi:«|jMiliU^provi4e thejn 
 with just what tl%" need. The^ tjgUW^chi6lag|yill 
 then be united in. the sympathy vBJj^flles from theip 
 being actively engaged in a common work. They will begin 
 to understand and appreciate each other more highly. It 
 will provide work for every one, and give every^one his work.* 
 will be meetings id be arranged for, son^s to be sung, 
 tionSf lb be given, absentees to seek, adherents to gain, 
 us ev^l^nie will be actively employed, and each wfll 
 
 ave the^^ous consciousness that he is not living in vain. 
 
 . Second, it would do much to retain the elder scholars. 
 At present, a large number who are ending their teens think 
 it beneath them to sit in classesrand be taught; but let 
 them be identified with this great work, and their enthu- 
 siasm in its support will intensify as their intelligence 
 increases. Those who are not yet converted, can thus be 
 
 >4 
 
 
 
 A; 
 
 y 
 
 / 
 
 *' 
 
'jr 
 
 '« 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 OF THK MKTnCDJS^T CHIfRCH, a^i ♦ 
 
 wont usflfulfy omployod, iitid lirtartlly mcogniueil, aii««, »« 
 thoy wiUcli th« i»r«»}4r«98 of their work, iUvy will U* 
 strunglhuned witli thu Htiinuhw of cofiHciouM victory. All 
 thu Itttt'iit wtMiltli of th« Hcliool will iitxo Ik? laiil uiii^r 
 contribution. Mmc, «ilucatit)n, ttt«t«, gift cM «jHJiidi, fucufty 
 for orgiiniziition, power of iwrHUUMion, will ull hi onliMted, 
 an«l giftH Im) d<?velope(l, thil vory exist^tcjii of which would 
 othurwiHti Ik) unknown. .|| 
 
 Third, it would inimonsoTy luilp tit Church in th« 
 V performance <»f h«r Hj,'^r«^twivo work, mt proamit a gulf 
 . yawns betweon tho ('liuich, juhI the inultitmlo. Ontheriiigs 
 of the wiHcst, and tlio liCHt, nuitulKsrH of tho Church, have 
 been called, to Rtudy tho (iue«tion of* " Ifovr to roach tlt« 
 masses ? " This perplexing j)robleni is solved at once ky 
 the temperance movement. It throws a bridgo across the 
 gulf, over which the Chutch can go to the fK'ople, with her 
 jnessago of love, anil mercy, and over whidb thouaanda of 
 them are ali-eady tloeking to her for light, and salvation. 
 The vast hosts of young people^ full of eu^usiasm about 
 meetings in which they are to take a part, ifill be human 
 advertisements, seen and heard of all men, attd tnulor their 
 influence the sympathy and curiosity of the pfrents will be 
 excited, and thousands of them will attend who would 
 never come to hear a sermon, and, coming to the temper- 
 ance meeting, prejudice will be removed, old memories be . 
 awakened, and an influence ej^erted, which wil ultimately 
 lead many of them to the Saviour. W . ' 
 
 ^ Besides this, the school would not be content with 
 merely holding meetings, but would do, as is done in all 
 ■well-managed temperance societies, organize a literature ^ 
 department, the scholars heing encouraged to attempt the ^ _ 
 . sale of books and periodicals. These being obtained at -^ 
 •^^twholesale prices, will leave a good margin for profit; the 
 account being carried on till the end of the year, and the 
 \ yihoke amount made by each scholar being given to him in . -, 
 «ome useful form. Thus many a lad will be enabled to ^ . 
 
 *i 
 
\> 
 
 .^•> 
 
 (,.( 
 
 ^ 
 
 '\ 
 
 
 > 
 
 ,■■ s 
 
 f> 
 
 # 
 
 > , 
 
 ...s 
 
 tV.' 
 
:.>•• 
 
 fl94 ADDRSSS AT (ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE 
 
 lorm the nucleus of a good library out of his earnings^ a 
 library that may be of immense vahie both to him and to 
 his home. This is not mere theory. I know of one 
 Wesleyan Band of Hope, in a poor neighbourhood, that'sold 
 last year more than 40,000 books and periodicals. Now,, 
 who can tell the advantflge of such a spread of pure 
 literature— advantages not only to the scliolars, but also to 
 the school, the purchaser, and society at laige? The fact is, 
 that such an organization would at once turn the whole army 
 of Sunday scholars into colporteurs and home missionaries, 
 and so produce a mighty effect on the population around. 
 
 It will also be of great benefit to the young people tltem- 
 selves. It will not only shield them from the ten-ible 
 drink curse, but will protect them jrom a large number of 
 dangerous companions. Young men who like tiie glass, will 
 not want abstainers fpr their companions, and thus, in the 
 nature of things, t|l»(^ abstainer will escape a fearlut peril. 
 It will also do mufch to develop the moral couiagfe of the 
 members. It is a most huniilia,ting fact that a large 
 number of people are very defective in this respect; 
 especially in matters pertaining to morality and religion. 
 They are governed by feeling, policy, convenience, ease, or 
 worldly interest, rather than by principle. They are tliere- 
 fore, to a large extent^ the creatures of circumstances. They 
 -can never say "Yes "or <'No" on the real merits of a 
 q^uestion. They always "Think so too." They neither row 
 nor steer, but drift, arid are at the mercy of every wind that 
 blows. Whatever Church or party comes to the front 
 attracts them; like so many particles of dead matter. If 
 they go to a town where Methodism is strong and influentialr, 
 they take a seat at-^he Methodist chapel; but if they go 
 to another town where Methodism is weak and poor, they 
 pass by on the other side.^ NoW, this organization, well 
 worked, will do much to remedy this miserable state of 
 things. It will teach tlip young people to judge, discri- 
 minate, decide, and act upon their decision. It may seem 
 
 
 
QF THE METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
 295 
 
 ;'T^-- 
 
 ^*> '' 
 
 
 to be a little thing for a boy or girl to say " No " when 
 asked to take a glass of ^ine, but it will have a mighty 
 influence upon the future chai-acter and history of that 
 child. Having said "No" in the face of example and 
 custom, and against strong pressure, once, will enable him 
 to say " No " to other temptations, and under other circum- 
 stances. It is the first step in a path that will often be 
 steep and- rugged, but a path that leads to glory and honour. 
 It is to the child a battle whieh, ending in victory, will 
 nerve him for future contttcts, and will do something towards 
 placing hiniySt last among those who, Imving overcome, shall 
 inherit all things. 
 
 Tills most desirable object will not be accomplished with- 
 out opposition and difficulty. Some hoary prejudices will 
 sti«,»d;^ in the way, and early-formed habits will sorely 
 hainpW some whose co-operation is most desirable; but 
 the object contemplated is so immense, so important, and so 
 pressing, that it ought to be earnestly and prayerfully 
 attempted at qnce. Christiaii^men have but to understand 
 the fearful peril to which the children are exposed, in order 
 to be prepared to make a sacrifice — ay, even a great sacri- 
 fice— in order to preserve them from ruin. Selfishness and 
 Christianity are diametrically opposed. We are not to live 
 to ourselves. We are out children's keepers. 
 . Methodism haa publicly declared that "it should be ^he 
 rule of our lives to take no step where the weak brother 
 may not safely follow.", There are but two paths open to 
 the children— one is the broad, winding, indefinite, path of 
 * moderation, the path by which every druiikard reached the 
 - way of darkness, and despair ; and the plain, clear, safe, path 
 of total abstinence. The children— with faith in our wisdom, 
 and love beaming from every face— ask' us, as individuals, 
 'and as Churches, " Which way shalf we take ? " Surely, 
 surely we shall not hesitate ; but, taking them by the hand, 
 shall lead them to the path of total abstinence, and say 
 by our words, and our lives, " This is the way, walk ye in it" 
 
 ' 
 
 4 i./ ■ 
 
 /• 
 
/ 
 
 /■ . 
 
 tifef. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 '^'^.. 
 
 >ii ,?> 
 
 '^^t^ 
 
 ^HE SUNDAY miN:^ TRAFFIC} 
 
 THE subject allotted to me by the Committee wm^jK-jtias 
 summoned this Qonference is, " The Influence oiF the 
 Sunday Traffic in Strong Drink on our Sunday Schools," I 
 heartily wish that the Committee had geleqted some one to 
 prepare this paper who could have given more time to its 
 preparation. What, however, I have been able to do, in 
 the midst of multiplied occupations, I have done willingly; 
 and I am cheered by the remembrance that the paper is not 
 designed to exhaust the subject, but only to provide the 
 tex^ and give the outline, of the sermon wliieh the Confer^ 
 ence itself will preach. 
 
 My subject brings before us two of the mightiest agencies 
 in operation in this country— agencies which every patriot 
 should try to estimate, and understand. 
 
 First, we havS the Sunday school, with its 600,000 
 teachers, and between three and four millions of children. 
 An agency so vast, and so blessed, that it has well been 
 <5alled " England's glory," .. 
 
 Then, second, we have* the drink traffic —a system 
 vaster, and more influential, than the other. When we 
 remember that besides those shops where drink is sold 
 'Occasionally, there are 150,599 houses employed solely for 
 this traffic, and that allowing a frontage of thirty feet to 
 each house, they would reach, if put side by sii, over 900^ 
 
 VA Paper read at a Cbnferehce of Sunday-school Teachers, held in the 
 
 T)wn Hall, Manchester. The Bishop of Manchester in the chair. 
 
 298 . 
 
 \ 
 
 A:. 
 
■%'. 
 
 a' 
 
 THE SUNDA V DRINK TRAFFIC. 
 
 897 
 
 mim or form a street, with houses on both sides, the whole 
 length of England, from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Laud's 
 End, in Coniwajl ; ^that 600,000 persons are employed 
 therein ; and that their yearly receipts amount to one 
 hundred and twelve millions, we shall see that such a vast 
 syi^tem as this, cannot exist without exerting iinmeuse 
 influence upon the country. Indeed, I don't hesitate to 
 sayi that there is not an interest, nor an individual, in the - 
 landj but is affected by it in some way or other. 
 
 i^hese two mighty agencies are in operation every Sunday, - 
 and! it is upon their influence upon each other we are 
 called to look. Do they work in harmony like the Church 
 and the Sunday school? Alas, no! On the authority of 
 Mr, Buxton we may say that they serve two m§isters— two 
 masters that cannot be, reconciled even by an Act of Parlia- 
 ment. . _.^ •■,-■'. ■ .^ ^^ -■ . 
 
 Mr. Buxton says that the school is the representation of 
 heaven, and the public-house of hell; and hence it follows 
 that; the prosperity, of one will be the ruin of the other, 
 ah(i that either the school must shut up the drink-shop or 
 thej drink-shop will put down the Sunday school. 
 
 JHoW, then, does the Sunday traffic in strong drink afiv3ct 
 the Sunday school ? 
 
 In the first place, it prevents a large number of the 
 ch ildren from entering the school. Professor Kogers says 
 that there are two and a half millions of children who 
 gr<?atly need ther influence of Sunday schools that never 
 enter them. This is a matter of interest to us all, for two 
 pavilions of children cannot, grow up strangers to all religious 
 influences, without materially affecting the future destiny of 
 our country. Why, thefl, are they absent ? I think all 
 
 us who have gone directly to the parents for information, 
 
 all agree that the two great reasons' are the want of 
 clothes, and the indifference of the parents. How, then, 
 dees it aris^ that there a|:e so maijy of our children unclad? 
 
 ;"■-.■ 'K'v; 
 
<v 
 
 398 
 
 THE SUN DA Y DRINK TRAFFIC. 
 
 How is it that England, while clothing all the world, can- 
 not clothe her own children? Certainly not from want of 
 m^ains; for while the Working-meu of our country can 
 spend fifty niillions per annum on strong drink, 4nd their 
 Sunday drink bill amounts to fjl'teen millions, nobody will 
 attempt to say that it is out of their power to purchase 
 clotlies for their children. Indieed, as a rule, we shall not 
 find this destitution except where wages are high! The 
 agricultural Ltbourers, with ten shillings per week, clothjB 
 their children, and send them to school. It is the artisan, 
 earning from twenty to fifty shillings per week, whose 
 children are unclad! and the reason in nine- hundred and 
 ninety>nine cases, out of every thousand, is that the money 
 which should have been spent on clothes for the children, 
 is spent on the Saturday night, and Sunday, in the drink- 
 shop. If evidence of this is wautin«jj I can supply it to' 
 any extent. 
 
 I know a school at which a boy attended, so poorly clad, 
 that the teacher, when the winter came, made a collection, 
 among his friends, and bought him a waVm suit; in a few 
 Sundays he was absent, and on the teacher visiting the lad, 
 he told him, with tears, that his mother waited for hinj to 
 come from his employers on a Saturday night, that she' 
 might take his wages to the public-house, and that she had 
 pawned the suit which had been given him, and had spent 
 the money in drink. The teacher,, pitying the boy, obtained 
 another suit, and he went every Sunday morning to his 
 teacher's hoiise to put on his good clothes, and then on the 
 Sunday night, he returned, and took them off at the same 
 place, and resumed his week-day dress, and was thus pro- 
 tected agaipst hia:/Own mother! " ^ 
 'I could also Jt^e you to-day to a room in our own 
 i^ty, where fiv»3ttlj6 children are huddled together, with- 
 out a particle of clothing '«fi them, and yet the father is 
 in regular work, and receiyiniil!l4iirty-five,|hillings per week. 
 
. •^«n.«Kw*f 
 
 THE SUNDAY DRINK TRAFFIC. m 
 
 A large employer of skilled labour in Yorkshire told ine 
 last week, that his men spent on an average twenty shillinga 
 in drink every Saturday night, and Sunday ; and one of the 
 largest employers of l&bour in this neighbourhood teUs me 
 thalnot one-tenth of his men are at their work on the 
 Monday morning. P 
 
 With these facts before us, no wondet that the late Ganon 
 Stovvell has said that the Sumlay trafficrtnrns the Lord's 
 day into a day tor the devil, and that it was a question 
 wliether many of the working-men would not be better 
 without a Sunday at all Indeed, I know that thousands of 
 the women of England dread the approach of Sunday, because 
 of the intemperance of their husbands, and sons ; while the 
 employers of labour regard the recurrence of, that day as 
 one of their greatest difficulties. , 
 
 Then there is the second reason for the absence of 
 children — the indifference on the pavt of the parents. 
 What is the cause of this ? As a rule the working-men of 
 England have strong home feelings, and an ardent love 
 for" their children. How is it then that they have so 
 "degenerated, that the interests of their Ghildren are, in 
 many cases, altogether neglected,, and that a law has been 
 necessary to enable society to compel them to have them 
 educated ? The answer was given the other day at Halifax 
 by Mr: Goschen, when he said. " Drink so degrades the 
 mental tastes, and perception, and so steels the heart, that 
 the education of the children is sacrificed to the sensual 
 appetites of the parents." 
 
 In proof that this is correct, I don't hesitate to say that, 
 after years of close intercourse with the working-men of 
 this country, I am certain. the compulsory power will never 
 be brought to bear upon an abstainer. Two men shall live 
 in the same street, and work at tM same shop, and earn the 
 same wages, and while the children of the one are ra^ ' ' 
 and neglected, the children of the other will be^jvcll clad, 
 
 :v. 
 
: J 
 
 300 
 
 THE SUNDAY DRINK JRAFFIC. 
 
 .apd at stihool, and the explaDation af the difference will 
 be, that one of them is a drinker, and the other air 
 abstainer. 
 
 Secoadjly, the Sunday traffic in strong drink connteracts 
 the labours of the teachers on the* children who attend the 
 Sunday school. The first requirement of tlie Sunday school 
 is, that the children be punctual, neat, and orderly. This 
 is almost impossible tp children of drunkards. Their 
 clothes will not be prepared, their bodies will be unwnslied, 
 and their meal^ not ready. Hence many a sensitive child 
 keeps away, and of those who come, the majority are dirty, 
 and disorderly, and altogether unlit to receive the instruc- 
 tion of the teachers. 
 
 Then, again, the teachers seek to lead them to honour 
 their parents ; but how can they do this, when they, see 
 the selfishness, sensuality, and cruelty of those parents? 
 Who can reverence a drunken father, or love a drunken, 
 bldspheming mother ? " 
 
 Especially, the Sunday-school teacher aims to lead the 
 children to obey God in all, things. His text-book is tlie 
 Bible ; this he teaches them to regard as God's revealed 
 will, and tjie Tqji Commandments he puts before them as 
 the great rule of life. But how is the teacher likely to 
 succeed in this, when the highest authority in the hind sets 
 aside God's revealed will, and teaches, in the most practical 
 way, that the Sabbath need not be kept holy ? 
 
 Ih the school, the child has been taught to reverence 
 God's holy day, and then, on leaving the school, he sees 
 open, at every corner, shops from which he never sees his 
 father come without terror, nor hisniother without shame! 
 the very foundation on which the teacher is attempting to 
 build a system of morals, is "thus destroyed, and we Heed 
 not wonder if the result is a perfect wreck of morality. 
 
 Children are very quick at seeing inconsistencies, and they 
 sayt "If we have no clothes, or shoes, or food, the law says 
 
THE SUNDA Y DRINK TRAFFIC. 
 
 361 
 
 - - ^,— ^.- - - ^ 
 
 it is wrong to buy them ; but if father and mother want to 
 take the money that should buy these things and spend it 
 on drink, which will make them swear and fight, it is right. 
 Teacher says it is wicked to buy sweets, and oranges, on a 
 Sunday, but the Parliament says it is right to spend the 
 same money, on the same day, in beer or gin ! Parliament 
 says it is wrong for Jews, who have strictly spent one 
 day as a Sabbath, to work on the Sunday to get bread for 
 their children, but that it is right for drink-sellers, who 
 have never had a holy day, to open their shops on the 
 Sunday to take the money from ° our parents that should 
 Jjuf us bread." My lord, in the presence ot such a vast 
 system, teaching doctrines like these, how can the Sunday- 
 school teacher hope to train up the children in the way in 
 which they should go ? 
 
 And the proposal of some of our friends that these*shop8 
 should only be opened two hours in the day, from twelve 
 till one, and from eight till nine, while doubtless a great 
 boon to the country, would not relieve the Sunday-school 
 teacher of his difficulties on this point, Indeed, I am not 
 sure but it would increase them. 
 
 If these shops are open, somebody will have to go tO 
 them to buy the drink; and, as a rule, those who buy 
 drink on Sundays do not keep servants, the children will 
 have to be sent, and what a mockery it will be to teach 
 them to "Kemembet the Sabbath-day to keep it holy," 
 and train them to cry, "Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 incline our hearts to keep this law L"" The fact is, con- 
 sistency demands that we should alter ^it. I saw in an 
 American paper that, at a State meeting the other day, 
 some speaker proposed a resolution to the effect that, in 
 .the opinion of this meeting, the Ten Commandments are 
 • obsolete, and should now be set aside. And if this Sunday 
 drink selling is to remain as a part of the law of England, 
 even fot two hours, consistency demands that some member 
 
 
 i 
 
 j 
 
■V 
 
 3o> 
 
 TH& SUNDAY DRINK TRAFFIC. 
 
 of either Convocation, or Parlinment, should propose that 
 the Fourth Commandment should be brought into harmony 
 ■with our law, and that it should say, "Remember the 
 Sabbath-day to keep it holy, except from twelve till one, 
 and from eight till nine!" As it is, the school says*one 
 thing, and the public-house the opposite, and as the scholars 
 can't believe both, one of them must be silenced. 
 
 Thirdly, the Suhday tratlic in strong drink destroys a 
 vast number of the scholars who pass through our Sunday- 
 schools. Professor Huxley says that our educational 
 ladder should have its foot in the gutter, and its top in the 
 university. We, as Sunday-school teachers, say, that our 
 ladder should have its foot in ]the home, and its top in 
 heaven. Tliat the children should be cared for by Christian 
 parents in infancy, should enter the school, pass through 
 it into the church militant, and so on to the church 
 triumphant. But is it so? Alas, no I The most sanguine 
 friend of .^unday schools will have to acknowledge, that the 
 results off Sunday-school teaching have been far below , his 
 expectation. 
 
 TlAEast London Auxiliary Sunday-school Union says,, 
 in onPif its reports, " Our beloved schools are retrograding. 
 We fail to retain the affections of our elder scholars ;" and 
 x it goes on to say, " an inquiry into the causes of this com- 
 parative failure is most imperatively demanded. The axe 
 must be laid at the" root of every tr^e that spreads its 
 deadly shade over our beloved institution." 
 
 Let us see if we can find the reason of this » admitted 
 failure; and I think it will not be long to seek. The tree 
 pf which the report speaks, Vdhich so throws its deadly 
 shade over oui* Sunday schools that we giather so little of 
 the ripened fruit, is the drink traffic, especially on the 
 
 X- Sunday. _ ■■•-:■-:'/'>■■'''■. ■. •'■V--"-- 
 
 See how it lowers -the tone x)f public opinion as to the 
 Sunday. W hen w e remember that at le ast 1 30 . 000 of 
 
 ■¥" 
 
\ 
 
 rUE SUNDAY DRINK TRAFFIC. 
 
 303 
 
 these drink shops are opened on the Stinday, and this is 
 leaving 40,000 as being closed in Scotland l>y the Forl>e8 
 Mackenzie Act, and in Ireland by the personal influence of 
 the Catholic bishops, to;?ether with some which are volun- 
 tarily closed in England ; you will have over two millions of 
 habitual Sabbath breakers I Under this gigantic influence, . 
 you have also a host of other shops for the sale of tobacco, 
 newspapers, sweetmeats, fruit, etc., supply irtg at least 
 another million. These destroy the sanctity of the Sabbath, 
 and practically teach the children to set it at naught, and 
 80 our hopes are blighted, and their ruin sealed. 
 
 When we remember that there are 18,000 of these diink- 
 shops in Lancashire, and 3300 in Manchesteir.and Salford, 
 and when I tell you that into ten -of these t'here entered 
 last Sunday 5928 men, 3009 women, 890 children, giving 
 an average of 982 persons to each house, or over 100 per 
 hour, who can wonder that those of us who are labouring 
 to save the children of our country have to cry— "I liftve 
 laboured in vain, and spent my strength for naught"? 
 
 If evidence is wanted to show the disastrous effects of the 
 traffic on the schools, take a fact or two :— 
 
 The superintendent of a Sunday school says: "Our 
 select class of young "men used to smell so strongly of 
 drink in the afternoon, that it Was sickening to teach it, 
 and nothing douFd be dope till ^ had expelled the incor- 
 rigible, and formed a Bind.-of Hope to saVe the rest. Since 
 then, several of the young men have joined the Church/' 
 
 Bev. E. Jackson, iftcumbent of St. J^mes', Leeds, says he 
 believes half of the scholars lost to his ^school, are dravjjr^ 
 away through the influence of the Sunday traffic in strfngy 
 
 drink. > 
 
 > -. The late Eev. James Sherman says : "Of the tjiousands^f' 
 chijdren which have passed through my schools, vetyjew of 
 them have become members of the Church, and drink ia 'the ^ 
 principal cause of their ruin." ^ \ > 
 
 .^^ 
 
 %: '.* 
 
 ■:^.:_-k,. 
 
 
 * ! 
 
 'O- 
 
304 
 
 THE SUNDA Y qniNK TRAFFIC. 
 
 >^t«'". 'fs. 
 
 r: 
 
 An IiuU 
 
 dent 
 
 read bo(oro tho 
 
 minister, in a paper 
 World's Temperance Convention, says : '"More than 3000 
 dtiildren have passed througli my school, and not one in 
 fifty is making a .creditable profession ofChri^tic^ity, and 
 the principal cause is drink." ^ • V 
 
 A Sundi»y-8chool teacher says : ({' The openriif^^. a tea- 
 garden, connected with a public-honse near our-lichool, on 
 the Sunday, entirely destroyed the select class of seventeen 
 young men." - . •. ' 
 
 Another teacher says : " I have just l^ound that four of 
 the most promising boys ■ in ' my cla'ss " spend their Sunday 
 evening at the public-house." 's^- 
 
 , A missionary in Hull says : " The iitfip* Sunday evening 
 1 went into a public-house, and found three young men 
 from the Sunday school sitting with three girls /rom the 
 same school," . " • 
 
 I might go on with this sad monotony of eyjdence to . 
 prove my position, but knowing that every teacher will hnT'e 
 long since been satisfied of its truth from his own expedi- 
 ence, I refrain. 
 
 I have, then, I think, proved that the Sunday traffic in 
 strong drink is most injurious to the Sunday school, and I 
 now ask. Why is it permitted to continue? Is it that the 
 article sold is so beneficial ? or that the shops in which it is 
 sold are such centres of light and purity ? or that the xw^n 
 who dispense itjire so intelligent, and virtuous, that we are 
 bound to makfe^ an exception in their favour ? To each of 
 these questionp, the national answer is "No." 
 
 Is it, then.Hhat, a majority of the people demand that 
 they should be op^ ? To this I answer " No." The 
 majority, the immense majority, of the people are in favour 
 of their being closed. Am I told that there are cases where 
 the majority is in the wrong, and the minority in the right, 
 and that a wise and patriotic statesman will |)e guided more 
 , by the opinion of an intelligent minority, th a n by th a t of a n 
 
 .'■ '■%■ 
 
 ■ b 
 a 
 

 \" 
 
 .^' 
 
 « THE SUNDAY DKINK TRAFFIC 
 
 3«5, 
 
 ignorant majority ? I know it But in this case not only 
 does the minority aak that these houses should Im) Hhut. but v 
 in that mojority you have the industry, intelligeuoe, and 
 virtue ojT (ho hind. In this struggle, it Is the publicans, and 
 sinners, veivms the patriots, and Christians; the avaricious, 
 ignorant, and the sensual, vtrtM th^ generous, the intelligent, 
 and good* 
 
 :_ If, then, this evil is condemned by God's Law, — by the 
 
 principles of our national constitution, and by the Will Wf^ 
 the people, — I ask. with earnest iteration, Why is it per^ 
 niittud to continue 7 I believe the true answer is. because 
 of the ignorance, and apathy, of the Christian Church. By 
 Ootl's ^race, the Church has liccome so strong in this country » 
 that there is no evil existing witl^in it, which, if she would 
 but unite, and put forth her strength, she cannot sweep 
 away ; and the people know this, and hold her responsible 
 for their continuance. Especially is .it so in this case. 
 Take a case or two in proof. ' . 
 
 A minister of my own ^hurch^s^oke one Sunday evening 
 to a drunken man, and remonstrate^ with him. He replied, ; 
 '* I know I'm wroiig ; when I leave^home in the morning, 1 
 do not intend to get drunk, but themublic-houses are open. 
 I get past one or two, but they are 1^ many for me ; I ga , 
 in, and then it is all over with me," And then,- with the 
 energy of deep feeling, he said, "If the great folk want to 
 keep ns poor folk sober, they should shut up the traps that 
 catch us." And this is the common feeling of the working- . . 
 men.. ^ . _■ 
 
 Hear, also, the taunt of a Hading inKdel to the same 
 effect. He says: "The working-men are cursed by these 
 open hellholes; they don't want them; they know that 
 
 'hundreds and thousands of their fellows are ruined by them : 
 but they are powerless to close them. The guilty parties 
 are the Scribes and tbe Pharisees. They have the power, 
 but won't use it They say. Ml you will not be saved in 
 
V 
 
 THE StTNDAY DRINK TRAFFIC 
 
 \; 
 
 uur way, go thfl (itiior way, nml tw clainnt<l.' Th«y are the 
 great uphoUlers of tlio driuking-synUjni. Tlioy know that 
 there are more Crimea comiiiitlwl, more vUita to infernal 
 places, more dineaaea contracted, more mon«y lo»t, more 
 ruin caused on Sundays than on all the other daya of the 
 week, hut what care they \" 
 
 I Bpoko to a policeman on Sunday last, and after hearing 
 
 evidence froni his Ijpa a» to the evilH which the Sunday 
 
 traffic produced, I exi)re88ed my regret- that it should exist, 
 
 yhen he replied, " Well, I think nolKMly is to hlame but 
 
 . you Christians : if you liked, you could make mincemeat of 
 
 ii this session." 
 
 pFellow-workers, shall this state of things continue 1 Is 
 it toothing to you that God *s insulted, tlie Church dis- 
 honoured, -our cunnti-y disgraced, and' multitudes of souls 
 
 4e8trt)yedt 
 
 In thunder tone» I would cry, " Awake, awake ; ^put on 
 thy atrength, Zion ; put on thy beautiful garments. O 
 Jerusalem, and come to the help of the loixl; to the help 
 of the Lord against the mighly." 
 
 Let the army of God listen to her Commander's call, and 
 use its wealth, its learning, its social influence, and its 
 political power for Him. Let us, as believers, serve not 
 political parties, but "^ the Lord Christ" Let us, as mem- 
 bers of Christ's one Church, be united in thia matter, and 
 tell our legislators that we will not allow this evil to con- 
 tinue That we will not have Sabbath broken by Act of 
 Parliament. Let a petition go from every church, and 
 school, in the land/ and, ere this session en^s, the plague 
 
 will be stayed. , .* 1^ 
 
 ■ ■ . ;. ..■;. : .. :■■;■■■ ■■:;■ ■, - -v. • : .f /■...;■; . ■■ ■ : 
 
 t 
 

 - 'r/''^ .^-.^ '^ 
 
 
 
 '» V 
 
 TM£ INFIUENCS OF TITE DRINKTNO CUSTOMS '■ 
 UPON THM WORK OF THE " CHRISTIAN 
 
 CIlURCm 
 
 ,,^ 
 
 THE great purpose for which we hftv« met together f^ 
 to look ut o»r national inteiuperauco— to aHCortaiii 
 its causes, an«l seek after a renu-dy. We cannot go far 
 with tliese iiuiniriea. without lU^^iOovering that among the 
 many causes timt exist, not one can for ft moment Imj cotti- 
 pared to the drinking customs of society. They have bieen 
 called the parents of intemperance, and it would.be easy to 
 siiow that they well deserve the name. 
 
 " Custom," it is said, " is the law of fools." 1^ fear, how- 
 ever, that its dominion extends to many to who|| that 
 term will not apply. Bishop Potter has said thi>t it is the 
 most.ahsoiute, and powerful, of monarchs ; and it certainly 
 is, for it reaches everything belonging to us. Itl tells us 
 where we shall live, what we shall wear, and what' we 
 shall eat, drink, and avoid; while rebellion is visited with 
 summary, and most severe, punishment, 
 
 It is a tyrant everywhere; but nowhere -is its tyranny' 
 more injuriously employed than in connection with titrong 
 drink. It was a master-stroke of policy on the part of the 
 enemy of souls, to persuade the Saxon race to select drink as ' 
 the symbol of everything generous and good. Alas! for ua, 
 his success has been most complete. Professor Miller says 
 
 * A Paper r<lkd at a Ministerial Conference held in the Free Tiode Hall, 
 
 Manchester. .... 
 
 • • ^ ^ \ J i8 \ \ 
 
 
 » J'l' 
 
 •''%■ 
 

 ^^k^f 
 
 (/ 
 
 
 I I 
 
 '\ 
 
 I 1 
 
 %'% 
 
3*8 WFLVENCE OF DRINKING CUSTOMS. 
 
 that Britoiis have the idea that nothing is done well unless 
 it is associated with strong drink, ond it is so. If we 
 marry/ we must drink ; if we baptise pur children, we. must 
 drink ; if we bury our dead, we must drink ; if we receive 
 friends, we must drink ; if we mourn, we must drink; if 
 we rejoice, we must drink; if we part with friends; we 
 must drink \ if we do business, we must drink ; if we show 
 hospitality, we must -drink; if we manifest our loyalty, we 
 must drink; if we Iprove our devotion,- we' miist drink. 
 As Geor<;e Gruickshank'has so graphically shown in his 
 .wonderfully natural picture, "The Bottle "^ — drink meets 
 us at the cradle, and lollows lis to the grave. 
 
 Such a \(ridespread, and minute^ agency as this, cannot 
 exist without exerting an iftpueuse influence on us ; and I . 
 want to show you that« bad as that influence isi on our 
 fiocfal life, and business habits, it is still more injurious in 
 its bearings on the Gbristian Church. 
 
 In order to see this, we must look «t the w6rk which the 
 Church has to perform ; and I know not that I can better 
 describe this work < than in the words of the . late Dr, 
 Arnold: "It is her mission to make earth like. heaven, and 
 every man like God." She is to be the sworn enemy of 
 Jill that is evil, and .the earnest friend of all that is good. 
 
 'With this wrork the drinkiug customs seriously interfere. 
 
 First, these customs greatly limit the Church's pecuniaiy 
 -resources.' The Church's wealth, like all her other talents, 
 is enti'usted to her to be employed according to her Master's 
 will. She is but a steward, and it is expected of stewards 
 ithat they be found faithful. Every Chvistiari, tlierefore, 
 •should form hahits of economy and, generosity — -economy 
 in his Expenditure on himself, and generosity in th^ seryice 
 •of God. Now the drinking customs involve a large 
 •e.xpenditure, and develop and strengthen habits of extrava^ 
 jgance ; and under their influence the decanter and banel 
 Are often kept full, whyile the treasury of God is lOllowed 
 
-i 
 
 INFLVESCE OF DRINKING CUSTOMS. 309 
 
 to remain empty. Many a professing Christian would 
 be covered with shame, if he were compelled to announce 
 to tho Church the amount he spends on strong drink, and 
 the amount he give* to the cause of God; and he would 
 rather bum his wine merchant's bill than show it to the 
 Saviour. We have but to remember that the avernge 
 amount given to missions by the people of this country is 
 only one shilling per head, while we spend ninety shillings 
 per annum on strong drink ; in other words we give the 
 shillings to Christ, and the pounds to Bacchus. 
 
 Secondly, these customs seriously interfere with the 
 work of the Church. They interfere with our work as 
 ministers, keeping vast numbers beypnd our reach, and 
 frustrating our efforts upon those who do come. Thousands 
 of our hearere hav6, while in the house of God, been almost 
 persuaded to- become Christians ; but they have been met 
 at home by these terrible customs, and their goodness has 
 been as the morning cloud, and the early dew. 
 
 It also seriously interferes with the work of the Suiulay- 
 school teacher, taking the good seed out of the heatfw of 
 scholars, and turning their very privileges into cuisea. 
 •One young man says, "Of the seventeen -who were scholars 
 with me, twelve I know to be drunkards, and if Sunday- 
 school superintendents knew how drink frustrates their 
 efforts they would avoid it for ever." 
 
 It is so with Home Mission work. It is so with Tract 
 pistribution, ai|id all similar agencies. As the governor of 
 Edinburgh Prison has well wdd,/* You may build a church 
 in evety street^ and make your religious brganizationa ^ 
 complete as you will; but as long as you allow the ;dfain> 
 shops to be open, you will make criminals, faster than you 
 can reclaim them." 
 
 It is especially so with Missions to the heathen;, their 
 nature seems to be peculiarly susceptible of alcoholic 
 influence, apd as soon as this fiery liquid has been intro- 
 
"!. 
 
 « 
 
 $16 INFLUENCE OF DRINKING CUSTOMS. 
 
 duced amoDgst them, it has spread sin, and sorrow, all 
 around. Missionaries from all lands agree that the intro- 
 duction of our drinking customs among their people has 
 been a great calamity. Dr. Livingstone sa^s, "They ruin ^.^ 
 both tlie body and soul of Africans.'' And Dr. Scudder,, 1 
 the celebrated Indian missionary, when delivering a charge^ 
 at the ordination of his son, said, "I Would not allow" a 
 heathen to se^ me take a glass of win^ for a kingdom." 
 
 I might multiply evidence on allithese subjects, hut I 
 think I have said enough to show that these customs do 
 greatly hinder the work of the Church. r 
 
 Tiiirdly, these customs inflict great injuiy on the ChUtch 
 herself, ^ / 
 
 » ' They lower the tone of her spirituality. An aged 
 Christian has remarked that if ja man, had a particle of 
 depravity in his nature, a glass of brandy would find it out ; 
 and this remark is borne out by the experience of thousands. 
 It is notorious that as the glass circulates, the conversation 
 becomes less spiritual-, and foolish talking, and jesting, often 
 takes the place bf conversation ministering Co edifying. 
 Complying with I these customs also weakens .the moral ^ 
 influence of the dhnrch. Her example should be one, that 
 all men could saifely imitate. The young, the weak, the 
 ignorant, should be able to tread in her steps, and feel 
 secure. She is nbt to live for herself, but for others. She 
 should be willing to make any personal sa0Srifice rather than 
 that those arou nd I her should suffer. It is her joy to know 
 that she , is her •* brother's keeper." It is true that she is 
 freed from ceremtonial thraldom, but she is to be careful 
 that her libert^ dpes not become a stuiubling-block to them 
 that are^ weak. 
 
 Now, th^rinking customs we know are full of danger 
 to many, to the young, who may, be thereby ensnared; 
 to the weak, who may be thereby cast down ; and to the 
 reclaimed, who may thereby be again brpiight back into 
 
 •■ y 
 

 JNFIUENCE OF DRmKJNG CUSTOMS. 3" 
 
 ■ ■■ '■ ■/ ■ ■ ■■ !'■■"■ '■■■■. - ' :■ '■ ■ ■■" '* j- ■ 
 
 bondage. ,I?y conforming to these customs we may there- 
 fore destriiy hira for whom. Christ diefl. 
 
 Lastly, these customs have robbed the Church of many 
 of her most efficient members and ministers. Is there one 
 of us that could not bear a mournful testimony to the 
 truth of this? Have we not all seen members, once sober 
 as ourselves, who have conformed to the customs till they 
 have formed habits which they could not conquer, and tied, 
 and bound, with the chain of their sins they have gone 
 into eternity in darkness ? . The "priest and prophet" also 
 have not escaped, and he that turned many to righteousness 
 has gone out into a hopeless eternity. Our people wouder 
 how this can be. With my knowledge I wonder how so 
 niany of us escape. Nowhere is alcohol so dangerous as in 
 thebr^n of a minister. His mental, and physical, organiza- 
 tion combine to make him peculiarly susceptible of its 
 influence. The quantity that the deacon can take with 
 impunity, will often drive the minister to madness. 
 
 These customs beset us as they do not our people. Our 
 visits are all special, and are therefore all the signals for 
 the production of the drink» and the more populftlr the 
 minister, the more frequent, and strong, the temptations. 
 If we pay pastoral visits, at every house tile drink is pressed 
 upon us If we go to the wedding, the baptism, or the 
 funeral, it is still there. It is often, too, pressed upon us 
 most unreasonably. Sometimes by those of whom we may 
 say, " They know not what they d6." Sometimes, I am sorry 
 to say, by those who do know what tjiey do, and who put 
 their bottle to their minister that they may^ triumph in his 
 shame. I have known men who have pressed the wine 
 upon their minister, and counted the gltisses that he took, 
 and who have ordered the servant to put a certain decanter 
 near 4;he minister, and see that no one else drank from it, 
 that they might know how much he drank, and who, when 
 reasoii*. has been blinded, and the tongue loosened, have 
 
 
»r »< ' . .■>.. ' !"■ ' ' , ; T ' 
 
 i> 
 
 \^^ INFLUENCE OF DRINkim 
 
 tr«iroted«p the iinwise words that were spoken and used . 
 
 them for his rttin 1 These men \ leave with their God/, 
 but. if m^rder is to be punished, they will not esca]^. I 
 need fay no more, but repeat that in my opinion the d^nk- 
 iiiff custpms of society are more dangerous to ministers than , 
 to any other ijlasrf of men. Here. then, is my^case. The 
 Church has an all-important work to do, and the dnr^ing 
 customs of society are among her chief hindrances. What, 
 then, is our dutyl I say to you, my brethren. what„ a " 
 famou* General is reported to have said to his troops on the 
 morning of a battle. "Coiairadea I there^ our enemies ; if _ 
 ycm don't beat them, they wni be^ yon.'' ^ 
 -^ Am I asked How this is^'to be done ? 1 answer. By 
 regarding these customs as enemies!, and resolving never 
 t^ubmit to theto againj In this matter let us all become 
 sturdy Nonconformists, M it wiU be a glorious beginning ^ 
 V to a still inore glorioui end. If, in addition to lAiis. we 
 could %t agree that, fdr our own protection, and forl^^ 
 sake 6f others, we wUl henceforth banish strong drink fi^^ ,^ 
 amongst t»ie luxuries, afid place if amongst- the fiftaiclnes. 
 we should fc^in an era of social, commercial, and spiritual 
 prosperity such asbur land has never seen. . . 
 
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